Andrea Pirlo Named New Italian National Team Coach After Pep Guardiola's Refusal The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has officially announced Andrea Pirlo as the next head coach of the Azzurri, the national team. The decision followed a months-long process that saw Pep Guardiola, initially considered the top candidate, decline the offer. Pirlo, a former midfield maestro for AC Milan and Juventus, will take over from Gennaro Gattuso, whose tenure ended after a series of unsuccessful World Cup qualification campaigns. Pirlo’s appointment came after a strategic selection process led by the federation’s technical director, Paolo Maldini, and vice-president Leonardo. Despite Guardiola’s initial interest, the former Manchester City manager opted to step back, citing a desire for personal time and family proximity. “Merci, je suis honoré, mais en ce moment je ne m’en sens pas capable,” Pirlo reportedly told Maldini, referencing his refusal to take the role. This decision cleared the path for Pirlo, who had previously turned down offers from Carlo Ancelotti and Gianluigi Buffon, the latter declining a team manager position. Pirlo’s transition to coaching marks a significant shift. He will resign from his role at United FC Dubai, the club he guided to promotion in the UAE Pro League last season. His new contract with the FIGC is set to run until the 2030 World Cup, with a reported salary of approximately 1.5 million euros per season. Key figures from his previous coaching staff, including assistant Roberto Baronio and physical trainer Paolo Bertelli, are expected to join him. The official announcement is anticipated during the federation’s council meeting on Tuesday. The challenge ahead is immense.#pep_guardiola #gennaro_gattuso #italian_football_federation #andrea_pirlo #paolo_maldini
"Someone Doesn't Like Me" Claims Pirlo as He Reflects on Coaching Career Andrea Pirlo, now the head coach of United FC in the United Arab Emirates, has expressed frustration over the challenges he faced during his previous coaching roles at Juventus and Sampdoria. Despite his success in leading teams to key achievements, Pirlo claims he has encountered unfair treatment throughout his career. Pirlo’s tenure at Juventus during the 2020-21 season saw the club secure a fourth-place finish in Serie A, qualify for the UEFA Champions League, and win the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana. However, he left the club at the end of that season, reportedly after a year-long hiatus from coaching. Following his time in Turkey with Karagumruk, where he guided the team to a historic seventh-place finish in the league with an unbeaten record, Pirlo returned to Italy to take charge of Sampdoria. At Sampdoria, Pirlo’s efforts to secure promotion to Serie A were unsuccessful. Despite reaching the Serie B play-off as planned, he was dismissed after just three games in the following season. Pirlo has since moved to United FC, where he led the team to promotion in the UAE’s second-tier league. In a recent interview with SportWeek, as reported by Football Italia, Pirlo defended his record, emphasizing that he has consistently met the expectations set for him. “I’ve always reached the targets,” he said. “At Juventus, I was asked to qualify for the Champions League. Done. Plus I won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa. I left and didn’t coach for a year; I don’t know why. Actually, I know, but I prefer not to say it.” Pirlo’s comments suggest he believes his career has been influenced by personal biases rather than objective performance. “At Sampdoria, we reached the Serie B play-off as demanded.#juventus #andrea_pirlo #sampdoria #united_fc #sportweek
