Italy contacts Pep Guardiola about national team coach role

Italy has contacted Pep Guardiola about the possibility of becoming its next national team coach, a source told ESPN. The source said the conversation with the Italian Football Federation lasted about one minute because Guardiola intends to take at least one year away from coaching after leaving Manchester City in May.

Three other national teams have also contacted Guardiola's representatives in recent weeks, and each received the same response about the planned break.

coaching search Italy began looking for a new coach after Gennaro Gattuso resigned following the team's April World Cup playoff loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Italian Football Federation elected Giovanni Malagò as its new president on June 22. Former AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini was later named the national team's technical director, and former Brazil international Leonardo joined in a consultancy role.

In addition to Guardiola, Andrea Pirlo has been linked with the position, though Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini are currently considered the leading candidates.

position Guardiola's representatives have told interested national teams that he is taking a sabbatical. Some of those teams indicated they would be willing to wait, noting that no major international tournaments are scheduled for next year. The source could not confirm which other countries had contacted Guardiola, though the Netherlands are also reported to have shown interest after Ronald Koeman left following a round-of-32 World Cup defeat to Morocco.

England have been repeatedly linked with Guardiola, though the Football Association has stated it will retain Thomas Tuchel despite the team's World Cup semifinal loss to Argentina.