The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has spoken to former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti as it searches for a new national team coach following Italy’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the third time in a row.The federation hopes to appoint a new coach within the week as it looks to rebuild after another disappointing qualifying campaign.Former Italy and AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini, who was appointed technical director of the federation earlier this month, attended a meeting of Serie A clubs on Thursday with new FIGC president Giovanni Malagò and special adviser Leonardo.Asked about Guardiola after the meeting, Maldini confirmed the Spaniard was one of the candidates but said the process was still ongoing.“Honestly, today we cannot give news about what happened. You know one of our targets,” said Maldini.“We cannot hide that we also talked with Carlo Ancelotti before talking to Pep. In fact, it seems right to start with the best in the world, to see their general availability.”Guardiola left Manchester City at the end of last season after spending 10 years at the club, winning 35 major trophies throughout his managerial career with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City.According to Maldini, he and Leonardo spent three days in Barcelona meeting with Guardiola to discuss the job in Italy.“The best thing is to announce the new coach this week, but we will have to wait for the person we really want,” said Maldini. “So there is urgency, but not much within us.”Ancelotti, meanwhile, signed a contract extension with Brazil in May that will last until the 2030 World Cup. However, Brazil endured one of the poorest World Cup campaigns this year, exiting in the round of 16 after a 2-1 loss to Norway.The 67-year-old has won league titles in Italy, England, France, Spain and Germany, and remains the only coach to win the UEFA Champions League five times.Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup after losing in a playoff to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March led to the resignation of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and head coach Gennaro Gattuso.