Andrea Pirlo is set to become Italy‘s next head coach after accepting a verbal proposal from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has confirmed.
The 47-year-old is poised to sign a deal running until the end of the 2030 World Cup, with a formal announcement from the FIGC expected once the remaining formalities are completed.
Technical director Paolo Maldini and special advisor Leonardo view Pirlo as the ideal long-term appointment — though he was not the federation’s first choice. The FIGC first approached Carlo Ancelotti before sounding out Pep Guardiola. Both elite managers declined. Guardiola’s decision was reportedly influenced partly by his salary demands of around €20 million per year, well beyond the federation’s budget.
Pirlo will earn around €1.5 million annually — a fraction of what either of his predecessors in the running would have commanded.
The Italy job became vacant after Gennaro Gattuso left by mutual agreement in April, following the Azzurri’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Pirlo’s managerial career has been mixed. He won the Coppa Italia during his lone season at Juventus before spells with Fatih Karagümrük in Turkey and Sampdoria in Serie B. Despite that uneven record, the FIGC is betting on the World Cup winner’s pedigree and long-term potential to restore Italy to the top of international football.
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