Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has turned down the chance to return to management after deciding not to take a top international job reportedly due to family reasons
Pep Guardiola has reportedly turned down an instant return to management after leaving Manchester City this summer following talks. The Man City icon has turned down the opportunity to become Italy’s head coach due to family reasons, according to the Press Association.
Guardiola, who left City at the end of last season after winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League during a trophy-laden 10-year reign, now appears to be out of the running just after confirmation from the Italian officials that he had been open to talks.
Italian Football Federation president Giovanni Malago confirmed earlier this week that talks had taken place with the former Manchester City manager.
Gennaro Gattuso resigned as Italy head coach in April after the four-time champions failed to qualify for a third World Cup in a row.
Roberto Mancini, who led Italy to Euro 2020 glory, and former Azzurri midfielder Andrea Pirlo are also candidates for the vacancy.
Malago said budget “exceptions” could be made in terms of salary for 55-year-old Spaniard Guardiola, who previously coached Barcelona and Bayern Munich. But he also warned “it is not certain that this thing will go through”.
Asked if Guardiola, Mancini and Pirlo were the only names on the shortlist, Malago replied: “Absolutely not. We think about a certain profile and certainly these names fall into that category.”
The news about Guardiola’s reported decision on Italy comes just days after Man City’s Phil Foden committed his future to boyhood club with a new four-year deal that includes an option for a further 12 months.
Foden said he was looking forward to working with new manager Enzo Maresca, who was part of Guardiola’s coaching staff during the treble-winning campaign in 2022-23, and added that he believes the Italian’s style of play suits him.
“So excited,” Foden said. “Obviously, I’ve had Enzo before. When we had him in the Treble season, he was brilliant.
“His attention to detail, the small things that make a big difference, and even training with him at the moment, you can tell how good of a coach he is. I’m really excited to play under him and see where it goes…
“You can tell by the first few sessions that I’ve done with him, the way he likes to play out from the back and play a lot of possession-based, it suits my game really well. I’m looking forward to that and hopefully it can help my game go to the next stage.”