Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, Paolo Maldini and Italy
Sunday
Paolo Maldini has revealed Pep Guardiola declined the Italy national-team job because he wanted to rest after a demanding decade in the Premier League. Maldini also contacted Carlo Ancelotti, who chose to remain committed to Brazil instead.
Maldini said the Italian federation then considered younger World Cup-winning coaches, including Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Grosso. Restrictions involving Serie A managers removed some candidates, helping shape the process that ultimately produced Italy’s coaching appointment.