Andrea Pirlo, the 2006 World Cup winner and celebrated Italian soccer legend, will not be appointed as the men's national team coach due to his affiliation with a Russian betting company. The Italian Football Federation reversed its decision to offer Pirlo the coaching role after concerns were raised about his position as a global ambassador for Fonbet, a Russian bookmaker.
Sources indicate that federation officials objected to the appointment, leading to the withdrawal of the offer. The controversy also prompted the resignations of two executives who had recently joined the Italy setup. Legendary defender Paolo Maldini, a former teammate of Pirlo's at AC Milan and the national team, reportedly resigned from his role as technical director. Leonardo, a former Brazilian player, also stepped down from his advisory position.
Pirlo, who is currently coaching Dubai United in the United Arab Emirates, was considered a candidate for the Italy coaching position despite less successful recent stints with Juventus and Sampdoria. Italian federation president Giovanni Malagò and unnamed Italian politicians were reportedly against the move.
Pirlo stated that his role with Fonbet was solely for commercial and sports purposes and was linked to his current coaching job. "To assign a political meaning to that collaboration is to attribute to me beliefs that I have never expressed and that do not belong to me," he said on social media, expressing "great bitterness" over the situation. He added that he has always conducted his work in compliance with laws and contracts.
The Italian national team is reportedly in a state of crisis, having missed its third consecutive World Cup after losing a qualification playoff. Speculation is now linking Roberto Mancini, who previously managed the team from 2018 to 2023, to the vacant coaching position.