Italian football manager and former player
The Italian Football Federation has engaged former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola in discussions about taking over as Italy's head coach. Maldini and Leonardo traveled to Barcelona to meet Guardiola, who has previously coached at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, with Mancini and Pirlo also considered. The talks follow Italy's failure to qualify for multiple World Cups and Gattuso's departure.
Saudi Arabia has appointed Greek coach Georgios Donis to lead their national team for the 2026 World Cup, replacing Hervé Renard. Donis, who has extensive experience in Saudi football, will oversee preparations for the tournament, which begins in June. The team is in Group H with Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde.
Two Czech finalists are set to compete in Wimbledon 2026 after dramatic semi-finals. Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova have reached the final, with Noskova defeating Marta Kostyuk and Muchova surviving a battle with Coco Gauff to claim a spot in the showpiece. The weekend promises a first-time Wimbledon women’s champion from the Czech Republic.