England Move To Hijack Guardiola As Coach From Italy

Pressure is mounting on the English Football Association to make a move for Pep Guardiola as Italy’s national team pursues the former Manchester City coach, following England’s exit from the 2026 World Cup at the semi-final stage.

England finished third at the tournament, their best World Cup finish since winning the trophy in 1966, beating France 6-4 in the third-place play-off after losing 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-final.

But manager Thomas Tuchel has faced heavy criticism over that defeat, with his defensive substitutions widely blamed for England’s inability to hold on to a 1-0 lead in the closing five minutes against Argentina.

The scrutiny on Tuchel has fuelled talk that the FA could turn to Guardiola, who left Manchester City after a decade in charge following the end of the 2025-26 season.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney said the FA “might go and get” Guardiola if he becomes available. “I don’t see anyone else out there at the minute, unless you go and get Pep Guardiola.

“If Pep is available, then maybe you go and get him,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show after England’s semi-final loss.

“If we sack him [Tuchel], what managers are we going to bring in? And I don’t think there’s anyone out there who’s as good as Thomas Tuchel, unless Guardiola,” Rooney added.

Any English move would not be unprecedented: the FA approached Guardiola before appointing Tuchel in January 2025, with reports at the time suggesting a verbal agreement was in place for Guardiola to remain at Manchester City.

Tuchel, 52, signed a two-year contract extension in February and retains the backing of the FA despite the criticism.

England, however, face competition for Guardiola’s signature. Italy have already moved more concretely, with Sky in Italy reporting that the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has held talks with Guardiola in an attempt to appoint him as their new head coach.

Paolo Maldini, the FIGC’s new technical director, and his advisor Leonardo reportedly travelled to Barcelona and spent three days in discussions with Guardiola.

Former Italy internationals Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo are also said to be in contention for the role.

Guardiola, a fluent Italian speaker who played two seasons in Serie A between 2001 and 2003 with Brescia and Roma, would become only the second non-Italian to take charge of the Azzurri, and the first since the 1960s, should he accept.

Italy have failed to qualify for three successive World Cups, with Gennaro Gattuso leaving the head coach role in April after a play-off defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina cost the team a place at this year’s tournament.

Whether Guardiola, 55, is ready to return to the dugout at all remains uncertain. He departed Manchester City with an emotional farewell after the final game of the season, a 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa.

“I am so tired. Seriously, I am so tired. I did everything. We did it,” he said.

“The memories I have of Barcelona and Bayern Munich are unbeatable but the luggage of memories I have from here from 10 years is more than any other… It is the right time. I will not miss it for a while, that’s for sure,” He had said.

During his time at Manchester City, Guardiola won 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and three Community Shields, as well as the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in 2023.

It was the third club job of a managerial career that also included three trophy-laden seasons at Bayern Munich and a spell at Barcelona, where he won three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.