Andrea Pirlo Close to Leading Italian National Team
Andrea Pirlo is on the brink of the biggest job in Italian football.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the current United coach in the UAE is now very close to taking charge of the Azzurri, with the Italian federation preparing for a decisive few days that could end with his official appointment.
From Guardiola’s No to Pirlo’s Big Chance
The turning point came when Pep Guardiola rejected the chance to coach Italy. Once that door shut, Paolo Maldini and Leonardo moved quickly. Their attention locked onto Pirlo, a name that ticks every box in the federation’s new vision.
The FIGC wants a younger coach. Someone steeped in modern football, comfortable with new ideas, and willing to work within a broader technical structure. That profile pushed Pirlo ahead of heavyweight contenders such as Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini.
This is not just about a bench. It is about reshaping an entire football culture.
Doubts About Authority, Backed by Heavyweights
Pirlo’s talent has never been in question. His authority has.
Critics argue he lacks the hard edge needed to handle a notoriously complex Italy dressing room. The national team environment is unforgiving, with egos, politics, and pressure colliding every international break.
That is where Maldini and Leonardo step in.
Malagò, president of the Italian Olympic Committee, has effectively handed them a major slice of power over the national team’s future. They are ready to stand behind Pirlo and, crucially, to impose their authority on anyone who might test his limits. The message is clear: Pirlo will not stand alone.
Talks at an Advanced Stage
Negotiations with Pirlo have moved into what is being described as an advanced phase. The former midfield maestro is said to be eager, even desperate, to throw himself into what is being framed as a revolutionary project the moment he is officially chosen.
Everyone inside the Italian Football Federation is bracing for an intense weekend. The federal council meets on Tuesday. Formally, the council’s role is only consultative; the statute gives it no direct power over the appointment. But the timing is telling. That meeting is being viewed as the ideal stage for an announcement that would send a clear signal about Italy’s direction.
A Project Aimed at 2030 – and Beyond
Pirlo is expected to sign a contract running through to the 2030 World Cup. On paper, that is the horizon. In Maldini’s mind, it is only the beginning.
The plan stretches far beyond senior call-ups and tournament cycles. The idea is to rebuild Italian football from the ground up, starting with the 12–13 age groups. It is a long, demanding process, projected to take between eight and ten years to bear full fruit.
This is about changing habits, not just line-ups. About developing players who grow up inside a coherent idea of how Italy should play, rather than patching holes every time a generation fades.
Money, Power, and a Different Kind of Bet
Financially, the numbers underline the shift. Estimates suggest Mancini would have accepted around two million euros per year to return. Pirlo’s salary is not expected to exceed 1.5 million euros per season.
It is a smaller figure, but a bigger gamble.
Italy is not just choosing a coach. It is choosing a philosophy, a timeline, and a level of patience rarely seen at this level. Maldini and Leonardo are putting their reputations behind a man whose vision they trust, even as some still question his steel.
If the deal is confirmed next week, the clock starts immediately: a young coach, a long contract, a deep rebuild, and a country waiting to see whether Pirlo can orchestrate one more masterpiece—this time from the touchline.
