Italy approached Guardiola and Ancelotti before turning to Pirlo for manager job

The FIGC approached Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti about the vacant Italy manager's post before turning to Andrea Pirlo, the BBC reports. Italy have not reached a World Cup since 2014, and Gennaro Gattuso left in April 2026 after another play-off failure. The Nations League starts on 25 September at home to Belgium.