Leonardo Bonucci has called for a major reset within the Italy national football team, suggesting Pep Guardiola as the ideal figure to lead it.Italy are searching for a new head coach after Gennaro Gattuso stepped down following their failure to qualify for a third straight World Cup.If we want a radical change in the national team, Id say the right man for the job is Pep Guardiola, Bonucci said.Its very difficult, but dreaming costs nothing.Table of ContentsItaly manager search after World Cup failureBonucci calls for rebuild of ItalyItaly manager search after World Cup failureGabriele Gravina resigned as president of the Italian Football Federation amid mounting pressure, while Gianluigi Buffon also stepped down from his role within the national team setup.A new president is set to be elected in June, with the direction of the national side still uncertain.Meanwhile, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri are among the leading candidates to take over the team.Bonucci calls for rebuild of ItalyGuardiola, currently in charge of Manchester City, is under contract until 2027.The 55-year-old has previously spoken about wanting to manage a national team before the end of his career, though any move in the near future would be difficult.His record at club level includes spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, with multiple league titles and three Champions League wins.Bonucci, who was part of Italys Euro 2021-winning side, said the focus must go beyond the next appointment.We need to have the courage to face up to whats happening so that we can regain the respect of the whole world, he said.The important thing is to rebuild Italian football, starting from the ground up, starting with the defence.Italy needs time and a partnership between politics and football so that both can move in the same direction.There are young players with a lot of talent; we need to nurture them and let them develop, and start afresh. The only magic formula is time. Topics Italy National Football Team Pep Guardiola Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Burnley vs Man City: Guardiola rues injury to exceptional Rodri as Stones future stays in doubt Ben Miller 21st April, 2026 Guardiola urges Manchester City fans to respect Arsenal ahead after Gunners lead cut to six Nicholas McGee 12th April, 2026 Chelsea vs Man City live: Cucurella goal ruled out as Neville claims visitors smell blood in Premier League Ben Miller 12th April, 2026 Chelsea vs Man City live: Confirmed teams and full lineups in Premier League Ben Miller 12th April, 2026 Man City vs Liverpool: Arne Slot in vow to fans before PSG tie as players are accused of blaming boss Ben Miller 4th April, 2026 Man City 4-0 Liverpool: Report, result, goals as Haaland scores hat-trick in FA Cup quarter final Ben Miller 4th April, 2026
