Pirlo in pole position for Italy job after Guardiola turns down Azzurri approach

Andrea Pirlo is close to being appointed Italy head coach after Pep Guardiola rejected an approach to take charge of the Azzurri, according to reports in Italy.

La Gazzetta dello Sport says Italian football greats Paolo Maldini and Leonardo have moved quickly towards Pirlo, currently in charge of UAE club Al United, once it became clear that Guardiola would not accept the national team role.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is understood to favour a younger coach with a modern football outlook, who is also open to guidance and collaboration. Those criteria have pushed Pirlo ahead of experienced contenders Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini in the race to succeed to the post.

Maldini and Leonardo to provide authority

Pirlo has previously faced criticism from some observers who questioned whether he has the forceful personality needed to control a demanding dressing room, particularly one as complex as Italy’s.

However, that concern is seen as being mitigated by the planned roles of Maldini and Leonardo. Giovanni Malago, president of the Italian National Olympic Committee, has entrusted the pair with a significant share of the strategic decisions over the national team’s future.

Maldini and Leonardo are described as ready to “impose their authority” on any player or figure who might challenge Pirlo, effectively assuming responsibility for managing any disciplinary or leadership issues that could arise around the squad.

Talks at advanced stage

Negotiations between Pirlo and the FIGC are reported to be at an advanced stage, with the 45-year-old said to be “very enthusiastic” about joining what is being described as a revolutionary project, should he be formally chosen.

Within the FIGC, officials are preparing for an intensive weekend of work ahead of a key meeting of the federal council scheduled for next Tuesday. Although the council does not have a formal vote in the selection of the new coach – the federation’s statutes specify only that it is to be “consulted” – the gathering is being viewed as a likely window for an official announcement on Pirlo’s appointment.

Contract to run to 2030 World Cup

Pirlo is expected to be offered a contract running until the 2030 World Cup. Maldini, though, is said to be thinking beyond that tournament, with a long-term overhaul of Italian football at the heart of his vision.

That project would start from the youngest levels of the game, targeting boys aged 12 and 13 in an attempt to rebuild the national football structure from the bottom up. The full process is estimated to take between eight and ten years to complete, underlining the desire for continuity and stability around the national team set-up.

Financial terms below Mancini proposal

On the financial side, figures under discussion are relatively modest by elite international standards. Mancini, had he been appointed, was expected to agree to an annual salary of around €2m.

Pirlo’s proposed wages are believed to be lower, with estimates suggesting his pay would not exceed €1.5m per season under the Italy contract being prepared.

If confirmed, the move would see Pirlo return to the forefront of European football management, handing the former Juventus and Italy playmaker the responsibility of leading his country through qualification campaigns and major tournaments, while also becoming the figurehead of a sweeping reform of the Italian game.