The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has spoken to Carlo Ancelotti in addition to Pep Guardiola regarding the national team’s vacant head coach role, technical director Paolo Maldini says.
Giovanni Malago, the new head of the FIGC, said on July 21 that the federation had held talks with Guardiola over succeeding Gennaro Gattuso, who left the role in April following the country’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Former Italy defender Maldini, 58, was appointed the FICG’s technical director this month and said on Thursday that conversations had been had not only with the former Manchester City manager, but also Brazil head coach Ancelotti.
The 2006 World Cup winner explained the recruitment strategy for Italy’s “ambitious project” was to start by targeting the world’s best coaches. He did not disclose how successful the discussions had been, but said they were in the process of clarifying the pair’s availability.
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Speaking to reporters following an FIGC visit to Serie A headquarters on Thursday, Maldini said: “Guardiola? We can’t confirm anything yet — you’ve identified one of our targets, but we’ve also spoken with Ancelotti.
“It seemed right to start with the best in the world, but we need to verify their overall availability.
“I feel a great sense of responsibility and pressure; there’s an ambitious project here. It’s a call to arms — when Italy calls, it’s hard to say no. I wasn’t aware of the initial challenges, but I sensed the potential to make a difference and everyone’s willingness to be part of the renewal. That was a key factor in my decision, as was President Malago’s persuasive ability.
“I put all my energy into convincing Leo (Leonardo Araujo, Maldini’s advisor at the FICG); we share the same values and have mutual respect. During the meeting we had, Serie A expressed its full willingness to embrace our projects. My role didn’t exist before.”
Maldini was appointed Italy technical director in July with Leonardo as his advisor (Marco Luzzani via Getty Images)
Ancelotti, 67, has been Brazil’s manager since May 2025, and led them to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, where they were eliminated by Norway.
The former Real Madrid head coach signed a new four-year contract with Brazil before the World Cup, which runs until 2030. The Brazil Football Federation (CBF) has been approached by The Athletic for comment.
Ancelotti has enjoyed a hugely successful career in club football across spells with a selection of European football’s biggest clubs, and in 2024 became the only manager to win the Champions League on five different occasions when he led Madrid to victory over Borussia Dortmund in the competition’s final.
Guardiola, meanwhile, left Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 campaign after 10 seasons with the club. He won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five Carabao Cups and the Champions League in 2023. He has been replaced by former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.
After Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in the European play-offs, Gattuso and FIGC president Gabriele Gravina both left their positions. Former Italy goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon also left his role as the FIGC’s head of delegation.
It was the third time in a row that Italy, three-time world champions, had failed to qualify for the World Cup. The side have not progressed past the group stages since winning the competition in 2006, but won the 2020 European Championship under Roberto Mancini.
