Should Pep Guardiola become Italy’s next head coach? Italian former star thinks so

Europe 20 April 2026 at 16:36

Khaled Hegazy

News Editor

Leonardo Bonucci urged the Italian Football Federation to consider appointing Pep Guardiola as head coach describing the Manchester City manager as the ideal figure to lead a “new beginning” after Italy’s latest World Cup qualification failure.

Speaking in Madrid on Monday 20 April during the Laureus World Sports Awards, the former Juventus & AC Milan defender did not hide his frustration after Italy missed out on the World Cup for the third consecutive time.

“A real reset needs a coach like Guardiola”

“If we truly want to start from zero, we need a coach like Pep Guardiola.. His arrival would represent a complete break from everything that has been done in the past” Bonucci said.

Italy’s latest setback came after their defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European play-offs, a result that led to the resignation of head coach Gennaro Gattuso.

The four time world champions have now failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups.. a historic decline for a nation that last lifted the trophy in 2006.

A difficult dream — but a necessary ambition

Bonucci acknowledged that bringing Guardiola to the national team would be complicated but insisted that ambition is needed at this stage.

“It’s very difficult but dreaming costs nothing right now” he said, calling for a broader rebuild of Italian football following repeated failures on the international stage.

A turning point for Italy

Bonucci who was part of the squad that won the European Championship in 2021, expressed hope that the latest disappointment could act as a reset for the national team.

“This failure must become a starting point” he said.

Italy now face a critical period, with decisions over the next head coach expected to shape the direction of the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup cycle.

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