Pep Guardiola said no: Italy turns to one of its own!

After several high-profile rejections, the Italian Football Federation is set to appoint Andrea Pirlo to lead the rebuilding of the Squadra Azzurra through the 2030 World Cup.

Italy appears to be closing in on its search for a new head coach. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Andrea Pirlo is expected to be named head coach of the Squadra Azzurra in the coming days.

The former midfield maestro has reportedly received a contract offer running until 2030, with an estimated salary of €1.5 million per season. While no official agreement has been announced yet, talks are said to be at an advanced stage, with an official confirmation likely imminent.

Guardiola and Ancelotti were approached

Before accelerating talks with Pirlo, the Italian Federation explored several illustrious options. Pep Guardiola reportedly declined the offer in order to continue his sabbatical, while discussions were also held with Carlo Ancelotti.

Ultimately, Pirlo’s profile won the backing of Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, who have been tasked with overseeing the sporting rebuild of the national side. A 2006 World Cup winner and veteran of 116 caps, the former midfield genius knows exactly what it means to wear the Azzurri shirt under immense pressure.

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A coaching record still mixed

Pirlo does not yet boast the managerial pedigree of a Guardiola or an Ancelotti. In his debut season on the bench, he led Juventus to a fourth-place finish in Serie A, while also clinching both the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa. His stints at Fatih Karagümrük and Sampdoria, however, proved more inconsistent.

Nevertheless, the 47-year-old has just reignited his career by guiding United FC to a historic promotion to the UAE top flight. If confirmed, his appointment would be a gamble based more on his vision, leadership, and deep knowledge of the national team setup than on extensive top-level experience.

After three consecutive World Cup absences, Pirlo’s mission would be to rebuild Italy with an eye on Euro 2028 and, above all, the 2030 World Cup.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

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Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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