Legendary midfielder Andrea Pirlo is reportedly set to take over as head coach of Italy’s men’s national team, according to multiple reports Friday. The Italian Federation, through director Paolo Maldini, was apparently talking to coaching giants like Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, but it looks like they’ve landed on Pirlo to lead the Azzurri through the 2030 FIFA World Cup cycle, set for Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. Man, talk about a pressure cooker gig for the former maestro.
The Azzurri’s Deep Hole
This isn’t just a new job; it’s a monumental challenge. Pirlo is stepping into a program that’s flat out spiraling when it comes to the biggest stage in football. Italy has failed to qualify for the men’s FIFA World Cup three consecutive times now. Let that sink in. This is a nation that hadn’t missed a World Cup since 1958 before 2018! That’s generations of consistent qualification, just completely shattered. The pride of Italian football is taking a serious hit, and the fans are absolutely desperate for a turnaround. Winning Euro 2020 was huge, beating England in a penalty shootout after that 1-1 draw, but those World Cup misses sting way harder. They even qualified for Euro 2024, only to get bounced in the Round of 16 by Switzerland. It’s a weird mix of success and failure that Pirlo has to sort out.
Pirlo’s Rollercoaster Coaching Journey
This will be Pirlo’s fifth head coaching job since he hung up his boots in 2017. His most notable stint was definitely with Serie A powerhouse Juventus, where he coached for one season after managing their U-23 side. While Juventus reportedly struggled in league play under his watch, he still managed to lead them to two major trophies, bagging both the Supercoppa Italiana and the Coppa Italia. That’s a pretty big deal, winning silverware at a club like that, even if the league form wasn’t perfect. More recently, he was coaching Dubai United in the UAE First Division League. It’s a mixed bag, right? Can he translate that big-game winning touch to the national stage after a few stops?
Pirlo’s first major test on this massive journey? Qualifying for the 2028 European Championship. That’s the immediate hurdle he’s gotta clear, and it’s going to be huge for setting the tone. No time to ease in, this guy needs to deliver results, and fast. You can bet every Italian fan, and frankly, every football fan, will be watching closely to see if their legendary midfielder can fix this World Cup mess.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply