Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Fabio Cannavaro, the Lippi generation’s coaching struggles | OneFootball

Andrea Pirlo was set to return as Italy head coach, only to be dropped before appointment. According to L'Équipe, FIGC president Giovanni Malago ruled him out because of his links with Russia.

The setback further stalls a troubled coaching career. Pirlo has had mixed spells at Juventus, Fatih Karagümrük and Sampdoria, then at United FC in the United Arab Emirates second division, where he remains under contract.

Before his near-arrival, the Nazionale were led by Gennaro Gattuso. Appointed in June 2025 to reach the 2026 World Cup, he failed after a Bosnia and Herzegovina debacle, and is now in charge of Lazio.

In 2026-27, Gattuso will face Fabio Grosso and Daniele De Rossi, the most convincing of the group so far. Grosso brought Sassuolo back up then took Fiorentina, while De Rossi’s Genoa impressed in style if not results after early stumbles at SPAL and Roma.

Filippo Inzaghi won promotion with Pisa in 2025 but chose ambitious Palermo in Serie B, part of City Football Group. Alessandro Nesta, now at Avellino, seeks to reboot after a rough Monza spell.

Farther afield, Fabio Cannavaro coaches Uzbekistan after brief or unconvincing turns at Dinamo Zagreb, in China, at Benevento and Udinese. Uzbekistan reached the 2026 World Cup but failed to take a point in the group.

Alberto Gilardino left Pisa in February and is currently out of work, though he could reappear as a mid-season firefighter in Serie A.

Materazzi and Peruzzi stepped away, Zambrotta rejoined FIGC in 2025.

Source: L'Équipe