Andrea Pirlo set for Italy job after Pep Guardiola rejection, report says

MILAN – The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has reached an agreement with former Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo to become the national team’s coach on a four-year deal, Italian daily La Repubblica reported on July 24.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in history, he won the 2006 World Cup with Italy and enjoyed a distinguished club career with Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.

The 47-year-old is currently in charge of Dubai United, who have just been promoted to the UAE top flight.

Pirlo managed Juventus during the 2020-21 season, guiding the Turin club to the Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup titles.

The reported agreement came hours after former Manchester City and Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola rejected an approach to take charge of Italy.

The 55-year-old Spaniard held talks over becoming Italy’s head coach, with FIGC president Giovanni Malago suggesting financial flexibility could be shown for a candidate of his stature.

However, Guardiola remains committed to taking “at least one year” off from the game, after leaving City in May, ESPN and other outlets reported on July 24.

Italy have been searching for a new coach since Gennaro Gattuso stepped down in April after the four-time world champions failed to qualify for a third successive World Cup.

FIGC also sounded out Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti before discussing the role with Guardiola, technical director Paolo Maldini said on July 23.

“We cannot hide the fact that we also spoke to Carlo Ancelotti before talking to Pep. Frankly, it seemed right to start with those we considered the best in the world,” the former Italy captain told a press conference.

The Brazilian Football Confederation has confirmed Ancelotti will remain in charge of the five-time world champions despite their last-16 defeat by Norway at the 2026 World Cup.

Maldini also said the FIGC would ideally appoint a coach by the end of the week but its priority was getting the right man.

“We honestly cannot provide any updates on what is happening at the moment,” he added, when asked about a La Gazzetta dello Sport report saying Guardiola was seeking about €20 million (S$29.4 million) per year to do the job, double what FIGC was offering.

Another factor that complicated the talks is Guardiola’s desire to spend more time in Barcelona with his family, according to La Gazzetta.

Guardiola left City at the end of last season after a glittering decade in charge in which he won six Premier League titles, including an unprecedented four in succession, as well as three FA Cups, five League Cups and the Champions League.

Italian football is facing one of its deepest crises in decades, and the appointment of a new national team coach is seen as the first step in a wider effort to rebuild a youth development and talent pathway system that has deteriorated significantly in a country where football remains a national obsession. 

In other coaching news, Mark van Bommel was named the new head coach of Belgium’s national team.

The Dutchman will take over on Aug 15 and lead the team up to the 2028 European Championship, joined by assistant coaches Boudewijn Zenden, Maarten Martens and Reinier Robbemond, per a Belgium statement released on July 24.

The 49-year-old replaces Rudi Garcia, who departed the role this week at the end of his 18-month contract. The Frenchman led Belgium to the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals, where they were knocked out by eventual winners Spain. REUTERS, AFP