Italy's coaching turmoil: Pirlo tops the shortlist for national team

Today, Andrea Pirlo has emerged as the overwhelming favourite to be appointed Italy’s new national team coach, a development that has sparked heated debate across the country. Media outlets La dello Sport and La Repubblica report the former midfielder is now the leading candidate.

Roberto Mancini, Antonio Conte and even Pep Guardiola were previously mentioned as possible candidates for the role, according to the same reports.

The former controller now appears to be the towering favourite, as confirmed by both La dello Sport and La Repubblica.

According to La Repubblica, Mancini enjoyed the preference of FIGC chairman Giovanni Malagò.

With the arrival of technical director Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo, the panels within the FIGC have shifted. Milan legend Maldini, a close friend of Pirlo from their years together at San Siro, is a strong advocate for his former teammate.

La dello Sport adds that "Conte and Mancini, long‑time favourites, are now behind. Pirlo’s profile matches the ideas of the FIGC chairman, the technical director and their advisor."

The trio expects to make a decision next week and to share it with Serie A clubs on 23 July; the new coach will serve until the World Cup 2030.

Pirlo is regarded as one of the best Italian footballers of all time, with a rich playing career at clubs such as AC Milan and Juventus. His managerial résumé is modest: he currently leads Dubai United and previously oversaw Sampdoria, Fatih Karagümrük and Juventus with limited success.

"Is this a joke? Whose friend is he actually? To get things moving again, we need a lot more," warns Corriere della Sera. "There is nothing against a great World Cup champion and sublime director, but he does not have the status to aspire to the national coach position. This choice would only have the characteristics of an extremely dubious, useless and fatal friendship," the newspaper adds.

That controversy underscores the intense scrutiny surrounding the appointment and the influence of personal relationships on the FIGC’s decision‑making process.