CT Italia: Only One Obstacle Stands Between Pirlo and the Azzurri Bench
The selection of Italy’s new head coach has not yet been made official, but one name is gaining more and more traction. Andrea Pirlo is, in fact, the candidate identified by Paolo Maldini—the Azzurri’s new technical director and president of Club Italia—as the ideal choice to lead the national team in the new cycle leading up to the 2030 World Cup. In recent hours, discussions have intensified between Maldini, Leonardo (an advisor to the FIGC), and federation president Giovanni Malagò. At the center of these talks is a shortlist of potential head coaches, with the former playmaker—a 2006 World Cup champion—now reportedly emerging as a leading contender.
Maldini knows Pirlo well, having played alongside him for eight seasons at Milan, and believes he possesses the right qualities to usher in a new era for Italian soccer. The former Rossoneri captain considers him a modern coach, endowed with vision, personality, and managerial skills—qualities that could prove decisive in reviving a national team called upon to regain its competitiveness.
After his stint at Juventus—where he was promoted directly from the Under-23 team to the first team, winning the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup—Pirlo continued his coaching career, leading up to his current role at United FC in Dubai. A potential move to the Azzurri bench would certainly represent a major step up, but within the Federation he is considered a credible candidate to lead the new technical project.
A meeting between Malagò and Pirlo himself is expected in the coming days to discuss plans, ideas, and availability in greater detail. Financial considerations would not pose an obstacle: the discussion will primarily serve to verify alignment on the project that the FIGC intends to develop. The appointment of the new head coach is being approached differently than in the past. Malagò has decided to involve Maldini and Leonardo in the decision-making process, entrusting the technical director with a central role in identifying the most suitable candidate. The goal is to build a unified project, free of internal divisions, to restore stability and a sense of direction to the national team.
Although Pirlo currently appears to be the front-runner, the race is not yet over. Among the candidates are also Roberto Mancini, whom Malagò himself holds in high regard, and Antonio Conte, while Pep Guardiola was also under consideration in recent weeks. The final decision is expected early next week, allowing the FIGC to present the new coaching staff ahead of upcoming matches, starting with the Nations League in September. Gianluigi Buffon may also find a role within the federation’s organizational structure, set to play a part in the Azzurri’s new direction.
