Report Pirlo as Italy coach will be official soon, contract to 2030 World Cup | OneFootball

Andrea Pirlo is widely expected to take over as the new Italy coach imminently with a contract to the 2030 World Cup, after Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola turned it down.

The Azzurri might finally be on the verge of securing a CT for the first time since Gennaro Gattuso resigned in the wake of their failed 2026 World Cup play-offs.

Technical director Paolo Maldini and special advisor Leonardo confirmed in yesterday’s press conference that they had spoken to their old Milan boss Ancelotti first, then to Guardiola.

With news today that Guardiola had turned down the role in order to stay closer to his family after a decade at Manchester City, the focus is all on Pirlo.

Pirlo ready for Italy role

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – MAY 12: Andrea Pirlo, Head Coach of Juventus looks on prior to the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and Juventus at Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore on May 12, 2021 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. Sporting stadiums around Italy remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sky Sport Italia and Calciomercato, the announcement could come before the weekend is out.

Although he is currently under contract with UAE Pro League side United FC, a role he only took in July 2025, but terminating that agreement shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

Official: Andrea Pirlo is the new head coach of the Dubai-based United FC of the UAE first division.

His deal with Italy should run to the end of the 2030 World Cup, and be worth approximately €1.5m per season wages.

That is significantly less than would’ve been required for Ancelotti, Guardiola, Roberto Mancini or Antonio Conte.

The 47-year-old is, like predecessor Gattuso, a veteran of the squad that won the 2006 World Cup.

His coaching career has been somewhat mixed, winning the Coppa Italia in his one season at Juventus, then one year with Karagumruk in Turkiye, before a sluggish campaign in Serie B for Sampdoria.

FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 29: Andrea Pirlo during the “Panchina d’Oro” award season 2022/2023 at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on January 29, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

The most important reasons for calling on Pirlo are his strong bond with Maldini and Leonardo, his former teammates at Milan, and considering Ancelotti a mentor too.

They believe he would be the most receptive to their ideas for revamping the youth academies and creating a clear identity for the Nazionale based on technique.