The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) appointed former star midfielder Andrea Pirlo as head coach of the senior men’s national team on a four-year contract worth €1.5 million annually, following high-level discussions that saw former manager Roberto Mancini emerge as an early federation favorite due to promises from CONI President Giovanni Malagò and a lower projected salary demand.
Former national team star Paolo Maldini abruptly stepped away from his role after feeling betrayed when federation leadership halted the proposed installation of Pirlo earlier in the process, declaring publicly that the hierarchy “do not want change.”
Federation Leadership and the Pirlo Appointment
Giovanni Malagò, president of CONI, played a central role in guiding the federation through the selection process, favoring continuity and specific financial parameters that ultimately shaped the federation’s shortlist.
Pirlo secured a four-year commitment through the federation, tying his tenure to a fixed salary of €1.5 million per year.
Maldini’s Exit and Accusations of Resistance
The path to Pirlo’s appointment was far from seamless. According to statements reported following his departure, Maldini felt directly betrayed when federation leadership halted the proposed installation of Pirlo.
“These people do not want change,” Maldini stated bluntly, pointing to entrenched institutional resistance within Italian football administration that he argued continually frustrates modernization efforts.
Financial Parameters and Coaching Shortlists
Before the federation settled on Pirlo, internal deliberations heavily weighed the profiles of Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte. Mancini had tracked as an early favorite for a return to the federation structure, bolstered by Malagò’s alignment and a compensation package projected to be more economical than competing demands.
Ultimately, the federation opted for Pirlo’s four-year project at the €1.5 million price point, balancing budgetary constraints against the desire for a modern tactical identity. The federation council meeting concluded with the formal ratification of the contract, locking in the new coaching staff ahead of upcoming international fixtures.
