Former Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci has called for Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to be considered for the vacant Azzurri head coach position following the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso.
Gattuso, a 2006 World Cup winner, stepped down after Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It marks the third consecutive time the four-time world champions will miss out on football’s biggest stage, deepening the crisis around the national team.
Bonucci believes the answer could lie outside Italy, pointing to Guardiola as the ideal candidate to rebuild the team and restore its identity.
Guardiola, who previously played in Italy with Brescia during his career, has long been linked with a future exit from Manchester City. Although his contract runs until June 2027, speculation about his next move continues to grow. Bonucci maintains that Italy’s situation demands a proven serial winner capable of immediate impact, and he believes Guardiola fits that profile more than anyone else.
Italian Football Player Leonardo Bonucci speaks onstage at a Press Conference during Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 (Photo by Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images for Laureus)
“If we want a radical change in the national team, I’d say the right man for the job is Pep Guardiola. It’s very difficult, but dreaming costs nothing.”
Guardiola shows off Champions League title Photo Courtesy: Evening Standard
“We need to have the courage to face up to what’s happening so that we can regain the respect of the whole world and become that great national team that was world champion” Bonucci said according to ESPN.
