From Guardiola shock to Pirlo gamble: Italy chase their own Scaloni miracle

FIGC officials are finalizing a deal in Rome this week to appoint Andrea Pirlo as the new head coach to rebuild a broken national team setup.

A complete structural overhaul

Following Gennaro Gattuso's heartbreaking mutual departure on 3 April 2026, Italian football found itself at a crossroads. Missing a third consecutive World Cup forced the federation to tear up the script.

On 11 July, the FIGC handed the keys to Paolo Maldini naming him Technical Director & head of Club Italia, with Leonardo serving as his primary consultant to overhaul the Azzurri from the youth academies all the way up to the senior squad.

Why Pirlo fits the new blueprint?

Rather than chasing a quick fix, the new hierarchy wants a tactician who perfectly aligns with their long term philosophy. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, this demand for mutual footballing intellect pushed Andrea Pirlo to the front of the queue.

The 47 year old, currently managing Dubai United, has reportedly agreed to a four year contract worth around €1.5 million annually, as noted by GOAL. While the FIGC has yet to drop the official announcement, multiple outlets including La Repubblica and Reuters, confirm the deal is all but signed.

The dream targets that slipped away

Pirlo was not the initial undisputed choice. The Times of India revealed that Maldini originally reached out to Carlo Ancelotti who remains firmly committed to the Brazilian national team project.

The FIGC then flew to Barcelona to pitch an ambitious, financially flexible project to Pep Guardiola.

However, the Spanish mastermind respectfully declined opting to stick to his planned sabbatical away from the dugout.

Overlooking the heavyweights

With the absolute elite candidates unavailable, traditional football logic suggested a return for Antonio Conte or Roberto Mancini.

Yet, Corriere dello Sport outlined that both veterans carried significant baggage. Mancini's previous abrupt exit for Saudi Arabia left a sour taste in Rome that has not completely washed away.

Meanwhile, Conte’s massive salary demands and notoriously combustible personality clash with the harmonious, top to bottom synergy Maldini & Leonardo are trying to cultivate.

Echoes of the Scaloni miracle

Pirlo stepping into the Azzurri hot seat mirrors one of the most successful international gambles in modern football history, Lionel Scaloni’s appointment by Argentina. When Scaloni took over in 2018, he was heavily criticized by the press for his lack of senior managerial pedigree, a narrative heavily tied to Pirlo after his initial stint at Juventus.

However, the Argentine FA prioritized a coach who understood the national identity, commanded the respect of the dressing room and could seamlessly integrate youth with aging veterans.

Scaloni’s tactical flexibility and emotional intelligence ultimately ended a 36 year World Cup drought in 2022.

Maldini & Leonardo are banking on Pirlo to replicate that exact trajectory. They are betting that his elite footballing brain and shared vision will finally pull Italy out of the international wilderness by 2030.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

Related teams and leagues

Italy

World Cup