Real Madrid legend Ancelotti rivals Barcelona great Guardiola for Italy job

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing The Associated Press, reported that the Italian Football Federation has held talks with Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti as it searches for a new national team coach. The federation hopes to make an appointment within a week, with Italy still dealing with the fallout from missing a third consecutive World Cup.

Paolo Maldini, the former Italy and AC Milan defender who was recently appointed FIGC technical director, confirmed that Ancelotti had been contacted before discussions with Guardiola. Maldini appeared at a Thursday meeting with Serie A clubs alongside new federation president Giovanni Malago and special adviser Leonardo. He said federation officials had explored the availability of what he described as leading candidates, while adding that the timing of an announcement depends on securing the person they want.

Guardiola, 55, left Manchester City at the end of last season after a decade in which he won major trophies and strengthened the club’s status in Europe. His coaching career has also included Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Ancelotti, 67, is currently Brazil’s coach and signed an extension in May through the 2030 World Cup, but Brazil exited the latest tournament in the round of 16 after losing to Norway. He has won domestic league titles in five major European countries and is the only coach to have won the Champions League five times.

Italy’s latest qualifying failure followed a March playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, after which FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso resigned. Al Jazeera/AP also reported that Roberto Mancini, Antonio Conte and Andrea Pirlo are among other names linked with the role.