Home sweet home: Pirlo one step away from the Italy job!

Italy tried to persuade Pep Guardiola to take charge of the national team, but after a lengthy saga they ultimately received a firm rejection. One of the greatest coaches in football history decided to turn down the offer following talks with Paolo Maldini and Leonardo.

Reports suggested Italy offered Guardiola €10 million per year, while Pep was said to be asking for double that amount—something that was never confirmed but certainly sounded plausible. In any case, Guardiola is eager to take a break after leaving Manchester City, so in the end the move was never going to happen.

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The Italian federation also sounded out Carlo Ancelotti to assess his situation with Brazil, but with the veteran coach still under contract for another two years, they quickly received another polite "no." That forced them to turn their attention to more realistic candidates—available coaches with Italian roots. In the end, there was only one name left.

Andrea Pirlo is set to become the new head coach of Italy.

According to multiple respected Italian outlets, the deal is complete and it is only a matter of time before the former midfield maestro is officially unveiled. Pirlo is expected to sign a contract until 2030, with the aim of leading Italy through two qualification campaigns, as well as the European Championship and the World Cup—provided the Azzurri qualify, something that has become a recurring nightmare in recent years.

Pirlo will replace his former Milan and Italy teammate Gennaro Gattuso, who resigned after Italy's elimination in the play-offs for the recently concluded World Cup.

The 47-year-old is currently in charge of United FC in the United Arab Emirates, having taken over the club in July 2025. However, terminating his contract is not expected to be an issue, allowing him to focus entirely on his new role with the national team.

Compared to the figures mentioned during the pursuit of Guardiola, Italy will save a significant amount of money. According to reports, Pirlo will earn €1.5 million per year, almost 20 times less than the salary Guardiola was rumored to have requested, and considerably below what coaches such as Ancelotti, Roberto Mancini, or Antonio Conte would have commanded.

Despite being regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in football history, Pirlo has yet to establish himself as an elite coach. He guided Juventus to the Coppa Italia title during his only season in Turin and has since managed Fatih Karagumruk in Turkey, Sampdoria, and most recently United FC in the UAE.

Italian media also emphasize that Pirlo's excellent relationship with Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, his former Milan teammates and close friends, played a key role in his appointment. Together, they are reportedly planning a major overhaul of Italian football—not only at senior level, but throughout the youth national team system as well.