During a 10-year tenure at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola secured 20 major trophies. His haul includes six Premier League titles (2017/18, 2018/19, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023/24), three FA Cups (2018/19, 2022/23, and 2025/26), and a UEFA Champions League crown in 2022/23.
The pursuit of a manager of Guardiola’s calibre underscores the pressure facing recently elected FIGC President Giovanni Malagò to revitalise the national setup.
Italy, a powerhouse with four World Cup titles (1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006), have failed to qualify for three successive World Cups.
Absences from the 2018 tournament in Russia, the 2022 edition in Qatar, and the expanded 2026 World Cup in North America have left supporters disillusioned and forced a structural reset within the federation.
The mandate for the new FIGC leadership is clear: they must qualify for the 2030 World Cup. Guardiola is viewed as a step in the right direction towards achieving that ambition. However, they are also considering names like Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo.