Andrea Pirlo has accepted an offer to become the new head coach of Italy, signing a four-year contract worth €1.5 million per season that will run through to the 2030 World Cup.
The 47-year-old former Juventus, Milan and Brescia midfielder was approached by newly-appointed FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini and special advisor Leonardo, both of whom he knows well from their time together at Milan. Pirlo is understood to have accepted immediately.
The announcement is expected on Monday or Tuesday, following the FIGC federal council meeting. Pirlo must first terminate his current contract with UAE First Division side United FC by mutual consent before taking up the role.
Pirlo replaces Gennaro Gattuso, who stepped down after Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup — the second consecutive edition the Azzurri will miss. The FIGC initially approached Carlo Ancelotti (who recently extended with Brazil) and Pep Guardiola (who is taking a sabbatical after ten years at Manchester City and would have commanded a €20m salary), but both turned down the opportunity.
Pirlo's coaching career has been modest. After a brief but trophy-winning spell at Juventus (2020-21) where he won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana, he managed Fatih Karagümrük in Turkey, Sampdoria in Serie B, and most recently United FC in the UAE second division, whom he led to promotion.
His former Brescia youth teammate Roberto Baronio, who has been Pirlo's assistant at every club he has managed, is set to be named as his deputy. The pair have been inseparable since their days in Brescia's youth academy and later as midfield partners at Reggina and Italy's Under-21 side, which they helped win the 2000 European Under-21 Championship.
Pirlo's appointment represents a gamble by Maldini, who has placed his faith in a relatively inexperienced coach with a clear vision of modern football rather than a more established name. The technical director has spoken of a long-term project aimed at rebuilding Italian football from the grassroots up.
Sources
- https://football-italia.net/when-pirlo-will-be-announced-new-italy-coach/
- https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/24-07-2026/pirlo-ct-dell-italia-il-contratto-i-tempi-la-scelta-di-maldini.shtml
- https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/25-07-2026/baronio-vice-pirlo-italia-amici.shtml
