Pirlo Set to Take Over as Italy National Team Coach

The Italian Football Federation is close to appointing Andrea Pirlo as the new head coach of the senior national team, having opened formal negotiations that have led to a preliminary agreement on a four-year contract until 2030. This comes after both Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti declined the opportunity.

Reports indicate that the official announcement is just a matter of time after final procedures are completed, as Pirlo has already agreed to coach the Italy national team.

The Italian Football Federation had placed Guardiola at the top of their list of candidates to lead the "Azzurri," but the Spanish coach declined the position, expressing his desire for a break and to focus on his family after his long tenure with Manchester City.

The union received an apology from Carlo Ancelotti, who preferred to continue with his current project, prompting officials to shift their focus towards Andrea Pirlo as the primary option.

Andrea Pirlo, the World Cup champion with Italy in 2006, has a coaching experience that began with Juventus, where he led the team to win the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup, before taking on roles with Turkish side Fatih Karagümrük, Sampdoria, and then Dubai United in the UAE. The Italian Football Federation believes that Pirlo possesses the character and football identity necessary to lead the project of rebuilding the national team.

The Italian Football Federation hopes that Andrea Pirlo will lead a new era that brings the national team back to its place among the world's elite. This comes after a series of disappointments, the latest being their absence from the 2026 World Cup.

The new coach is expected to start his role following the official announcement, preparing for upcoming challenges. This includes the UEFA Nations League and the qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup.