Andrea Pirlo is set to take over as the head coach of Italy’s national football team, according to multiple sports reports, stepping into a high-pressure job following the team’s third missed World Cup qualification. The 47-year-old former midfielder will succeed his former teammate Gennaro Gattuso, who resigned after the Azzurri failed to secure a spot at the tournament. Talks between Pirlo and the Italian Football Federation moved quickly after top-choice candidate Pep Guardiola turned down the position, according to reports from outlets including La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Contract Terms and Financial Package
According to reports from La Repubblica, the Italian federation has lined up a four-year contract for Pirlo that runs through the 2030 World Cup cycle. The agreement reportedly carries an annual salary exceeding 1.5 million euros, alongside performance-based bonuses. Pirlo enters the role while currently under contract with United FC Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The formal signing ceremony remains pending, though discussions have advanced rapidly with Italian federation chief Giovanni Malagò and newly appointed technical director Paolo Maldini.
Pep Guardiola Turns Down the Federation
Before turning their attention to Pirlo, federation officials pursued Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as their primary choice for the bench. La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the 55-year-old Spanish manager informed Italian officials that he was not available to take the job. The outlet quoted Guardiola directly: “Danke, ich fühle mich geehrt. Aber im Moment traue ich mir das nicht zu.” (“Thank you, I feel honored. But right now, I don’t feel up to it.”) Guardiola, whose glittering managerial career includes Champions League titles with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011 and Manchester City in 2023 alongside twelve domestic league titles across Spain, Germany, and England, is currently taking a break from club management.
A Legend of the 2006 World Cup Triumph
Italian supporters know Pirlo best for his brilliant playmaking during the country’s 2006 World Cup championship run in Germany, where he shared the pitch alongside the man he is now replacing, Gennaro Gattuso. Football fans across Europe vividly remember his role in the 2006 semi-final against the host nation, where his precise extra-time pass set up Fabio Grosso for the opening goal in a 2-0 victory that sent Italy to the final. Across his illustrious playing career, the 116-time international earned legendary status representing AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus.
Coaching Background and Previous Candidates
Transitioning from the pitch to the technical area, Pirlo has experienced mixed fortunes as a club manager. His previous coaching assignments include stints at Juventus and Sampdoria, where results were widely characterized as modest. The federation also weighed a reunion with Roberto Mancini, who coached the Squadra Azzurra from 2018 to 2023 and captured the European Championship title in 2021. However, Mancini’s standing within Italian football remains complicated following his sudden departure for Saudi Arabia in 2023.
