Andrea Pirlo has verbally agreed to take over as the head coach of the Italy national football team, putting the former Juventus manager on the verge of leading the Azzurri, according to football insider Fabrizio Romano.
Pirlo gave his green light to a long-term project presented by Paolo Maldini, Technical Director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), alongside his advisor Leonardo. Official contract signing is expected in the coming days once formal procedures are finalized.
The former Italy midfielder was appointed after unsuccessful attempts to hire Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti. The Spanish manager opted for a sabbatical to spend time with his family following his departure from Manchester City, while Ancelotti preferred to remain in charge of the Brazil national team.
Pirlo’s managerial debut with the Azzurri will be a stern test against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on September 25, 2026, in the opening fixture of the UEFA Nations League.
Pirlo began his coaching career in the summer of 2020 with Juventus U23. Just nine days later, he was promoted to manage the senior team, guiding Juventus to victory in both the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana during his single season in charge.
The 47-year-old manager later managed Turkish side Fatih Karagümrük during the 2022–2023 season before returning to Italy to lead Sampdoria in Serie B, a role he held until August 2024. In July 2025, Pirlo took charge of United FC in the UAE, successfully leading the newly promoted club to a historic promotion to the UAE Pro League after securing 17 victories in his first 26 matches.
The 2006 World Cup winner now faces the daunting task of rebuilding the Italian national team following their third consecutive failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. His journey begins in the UEFA Nations League, where matches against Belgium, Turkey, and France will test Italy’s recovery on the international stage.
