Andrea Pirlo Won't be Named Italy Coach

Andrea Pirlo has been ruled out of contention for the Italy national team coaching job due to political sensitivities surrounding a sponsorship deal with a Russian betting company. Pirlo himself confirmed his exclusion from the running via an Instagram post, stating he had learned he was no longer the candidate for the position.

The decision follows objections from several Italian politicians who expressed unease about Pirlo's role as an ambassador for Fonbet. They argued that the national team coach should not hold a position that could be seen as conflicting with Italy's support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia. Pirlo, who was reportedly ready to leave his coaching role with Dubai United, was already facing skepticism after less-than-successful stints with Juventus and Sampdoria.

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I heard last night that I’m no longer the candidate for the Italy national team job.

Pirlo defended the Fonbet deal, asserting it was tied to his work in the United Arab Emirates and was strictly for commercial and sports purposes. He stated that attributing any political significance to the collaboration would be misinterpreting his personal beliefs. The former player was considered a third choice for the role, with Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola having previously declined offers. The Italian national team is in a critical state, having failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups. The focus now reportedly returns to former coaches Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte, while Gennaro Gattuso departed the role by mutual consent in April.

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Attributing a political significance to that collaboration means attributing beliefs to me that I have never expressed and don't belong to me.