Italy will challenge Pep Guardiola and Ancelotti in the search for a new national team coach

ByTech Word News

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) held talks with former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti in the search for a new national team coach after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row.The federation hopes to appoint a new coach within the week as it looks set to be rebuilt after another disappointing qualifying campaign.Former Italy and AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini, who was appointed as the federation’s technical director earlier this month, attended a meeting with Serie A clubs on Thursday alongside new FIGC president Giovanni Malagò and special adviser Leonardo.Asked about Guardiola after the meeting, Maldini confirmed the Spaniard was among the candidates but said the process was still ongoing.“Honestly, today we cannot report what is happening. You have identified one of our targets,” Maldini said.“We can’t hide that we also spoke to Carlo Ancelotti before talking to Pep. To be honest, it seemed right to start with the best in the world, to see their general availability.”Guardiola left Manchester City at the end of last season after spending 10 years at the club and winning 35 major trophies with Barcelona, ​​Bayern Munich and City during his managerial career.According to Maldini, he and Leonardo spent three days in Barcelona and met with Guardiola to discuss the job in Italy.“It would be best to announce a new coach this week, but even more to wait for the person we really want,” Maldini said. “So there is an urgency, but not so much within us.Meanwhile, Ancelotti signed a contract extension with Brazil in May that will see them through to the 2030 World Cup. However, Brazil suffered one of their poorest World Cup campaigns this year, exiting in the last 16 after losing 2-1 to Norway.The 67-year-old has won league titles in Italy, England, France, Spain and Germany and remains the only manager to win the UEFA Champions League five times.Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup after a play-off loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March led to the resignation of FIGC president Gabriel Gravina and head coach Gennaro Gattuso.