Andrea Pirlo to take charge of Italy on four-year deal after Guardiola and Ancelotti snubs

Andrea Pirlo has agreed a four-year contract to become Italy’s new head coach after the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) failed in attempts to lure Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti to the role.

According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Guardiola – described as the federation’s first-choice candidate – turned down the job, clearing the way for negotiations with Pirlo to be concluded quickly. Ancelotti was never a realistic option, as he remains under contract with Brazil until 2030.

Pirlo’s deal with the FIGC is reported to run until the 2030 World Cup, with the 45-year-old set to earn around €1.5m per year plus a package of bonuses and performance-related incentives.

The appointment follows the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso, who stepped down after Italy’s latest failure in World Cup qualifying. In March, the Azzurri were beaten on penalties by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-offs, confirming their absence from a third successive World Cup since 2014.

That setback deepened a long-running crisis for Italian football, which has enjoyed only one major high point in recent years: victory at Euro 2020 (played in 2021). The FIGC now hopes Pirlo can restore Italy, four-time world champions, to the elite of the international game. Only Brazil, with five titles, have won more World Cups.

Pirlo’s illustrious playing career

Pirlo arrives in the role with a distinguished record as an Italy international. Between 2002 and 2015 he made 116 appearances and scored 13 goals for the national team.

He was a central figure in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph in Germany, where the Azzurri beat France on penalties in the final to secure their fourth and most recent world title. Pirlo also helped Italy reach the final of Euro 2012 and contributed to the team finishing third at the 2013 Confederations Cup.

The former midfielder’s deep connection with the national side is seen within Italian football as an important asset as he takes on what is widely regarded as one of the most demanding jobs in the game.

Backed by Maldini amid questions over experience

Pirlo’s appointment is strongly backed by Paolo Maldini, the legendary former defender who is now the FIGC’s new technical director. Maldini and Pirlo were team-mates at Milan for eight seasons between 2001 and 2009, a period in which the club won several major trophies including two Champions League titles and the Serie A title.

Maldini had previously hoped to bring Pirlo back to San Siro as Milan coach during his spell in an executive role at the club, before Maldini left that position in June 2023. Instead, the pair will now be reunited in the national set-up with a shared objective of reviving the Azzurri.

However, Pirlo’s limited coaching track record is likely to come under scrutiny. He has had just one season in charge of a major European club, leading Juventus in 2020-21. During that campaign he won the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup but departed after only one year.

Pirlo subsequently worked at Fatih Karagumruk in Turkey and at Sampdoria in Italy before moving to the United Arab Emirates, where he is currently head coach of FC United. He is expected to leave the Emirati club to take up the Italy job.

The former playmaker now faces the substantial task of rebuilding a national team burdened by repeated World Cup failures, with his contract structured to keep him in post through to the 2030 tournament if results and performances satisfy the FIGC.