Guardiola Declines Italy Job; Pirlo Favored for Rebuild
Pep Guardiola declined Italy’s national-team job, leaving Andrea Pirlo as the favored successor under the long-term plan championed by Maldini and Leonardo. The new leadership stressed a unified, 8- to 10-year strategy and a coach who aligns with their vision, with Pirlo as the main alternative if Guardiola remains unavailable.