Pep Guardiola has turned down the chance to take the Italy head coach job, according to Sky in Italy. Guardiola gave his response to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Thursday night, with Sky in Italy reporting his decision was down to to personal reasons that go beyond football.
Ancelotti has agreed to stay in post and now Guardiola has informed the FIGC he intends to continue with his plan to take a break from the game, which will allow him to rest, spend more time with his family and travel. In addition to a huge salary, the FIGC is understood to have effectively told Guardiola he could shape the job as he saw fit, as they tried to tempt one of the most successful coaches in the game to take charge of a side that has failed to qualify for three World Cups in a row.
FIGC officials Paolo Maldini and his advisor Leonardo met with Guardiola over three days, explaining their project for the national team moving forward. Maldini and Leonardo previously claimed that it could take eight to ten years for Italy to return to the top of international football, a timespan that may have further deterred Guardiola from the position. The report claims that Guardiola still sees himself as a day-to-day coach on the training pitch rather than one that adopts a part-time role.
On Thursday, FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini said Italy first approached their former player Carlo Ancelotti, who is currently in charge of Brazil.