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Not Everyone in Italy Wants Pep Guardiola to Take Over the Azzurra: "It Would Be a Mistake"
While the Italian Football Federation continues talks with Pep Guardiola to become Italy's next head coach, one of the country's top sports officials has spoken out strongly against the idea.
Guardiola Remains a Candidate for Italy
Italy's search for a new national team head coach is well underway, and Pep Guardiola has emerged as one of the leading candidates for the job.
Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malagò recently confirmed that discussions with the Spanish manager are taking place, while cautioning that there is no guarantee the negotiations will be successful.
The prospect of Guardiola taking charge of the Azzurra has generated excitement among sections of the Italian media and fans, especially after the national team's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Luciano Buonfiglio Opposes Guardiola's Appointment
Not everyone in Italy shares that enthusiasm. Luciano Buonfiglio, president of the Italian Olympic Committee, made it clear that he believes appointing Guardiola would be the wrong decision.
"The only thing I ask Giovanni is to choose an Italian coach," Buonfiglio said, insisting that rebuilding the national team should be entrusted to a homegrown manager rather than a foreign one.
According to Buonfiglio, Italy boasts one of the world's finest coaching traditions and should rely on its own footballing expertise to restore the national team's success.
A Personal Experience Shaped His Opinion
Buonfiglio explained that his position is based on his own experience while serving as president of the Italian Canoe Federation.
He recalled appointing a German coach, a decision he now considers a mistake because the manager never fully understood Italy's sporting culture.
According to Buonfiglio, the coach failed to embrace "the mentality and identity of the Italian athlete," ultimately undermining a project that had been built on strong foundations over many years.
Italy Still Searching for Its Next Head Coach
Despite the ongoing talks with Guardiola and other candidates, the Italian Football Federation has yet to decide who will lead the Azzurra into its next cycle.
Whoever is appointed will face the enormous challenge of restoring one of world football's most successful national teams after its disappointing failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a setback that has sparked widespread debate about the future of Italian football.
