Leonardo Bonucci envisions Pep Guardiola as the ideal candidate for the role of Italy’s manager: ‘The right person for the position’
Former Italy and Juventus star Leonardo Bonucci is advocating for Pep Guardiola to implement a “radical change” within the national team.
Italy is in search of a new head coach following Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation after the Azzurri’s inability to qualify for a third consecutive men’s World Cup.
Bonucci, who served as an assistant to Gattuso and holds a technical coaching role within the national team framework, stated: “If we desire a radical transformation in the national team, I would suggest that Pep Guardiola is the ideal candidate for the position. It is quite challenging, but dreaming is free.”
Guardiola, 55, whose contract with Manchester City runs until June 2027, has frequently indicated his ambition to manage a national team at a significant tournament before his retirement.
His illustrious coaching career includes tenures at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and City, where he has secured 40 major trophies, including three Champions League titles.
Antonio Conte, currently at Napoli, and Massimiliano Allegri, manager of Juventus, are the leading candidates for the open position.
The failure of four-time World Cup champions Italy to qualify led to the resignation of the country’s football federation president Gabriele Gravina amid political pressure.
Gianluigi Buffon, the goalkeeper who helped Italy win the 2006 World Cup, also resigned from his role as the team’s delegation chief.
A new president of the FIGC is set to be elected on June 22.
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According to Bonucci, Italy requires a significant overhaul, having been a pivotal figure in Italy’s European Championship victory in 2021.
“We must have the courage to confront the current situation so that we can regain global respect and become the great national team that was once world champion,” he remarked.
“The key is to rebuild Italian football from the ground up, beginning with the defense.
“Italy needs time and a collaboration between politics and football to ensure both progress in the same direction. There are young players with immense talent; we must support their growth and allow them to flourish, starting anew. The only effective solution is time.”
