After another apology… Italy decides on its version of a contract that will extend for years

The Italian legend faces his biggest challenge yet

The Italian Football Federation has decided to appoint Andrea Pirlo as the new coach of the Azzurri after Carlo Ancelotti, who has a contract with the Brazilian national team until 2030, refused. And Pep Guardiola, Al-Ittihad’s first choicetake on this task.

According to the newspaper, in 2018La Repubblica“Guardiola’s apology allowed the matter to be resolved quickly as the Italian federation reached a final deal with Pirlo, a four-year extension that will see him receive around €1.5m a year in addition to a package of incentives and bonuses to stay in his role until the 2030 World Cup.

Pirlo has a rich history in the jersey of the national team. Between 2002 and 2015, he played 116 international matches and scored 13 goals. He was one of the main pillars of Italy’s fourth and final World Cup title in Germany in 2006, beating France on penalties, in addition to reaching the Euro 2012 final and finishing third in the 2013 Cup conference.

The move comes to save Italian football from a deep crisis; Barring a European Cup of Nations title in 2021, Italy have suffered back-to-back failures that worsened last March when they lost on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in World Cup qualifying, resulting in the Azzurri’s third consecutive World Cup absence since 2014 and prompting coach Gennaro to resubmit his bid.

Pirlo, currently in charge of Emirati club FC United, has a huge responsibility to restore four-time World Cup winners Italy to their natural position among the game’s best players, with only Brazil, who have won five titles, surpassing them globally.

The title enjoys the full backing of defensive legend Paolo Maldini, the new FA coach, who has had a close friendship with Pirlo since they joined Milan for eight seasons (2001-2009), during which they won several titles, notably the Champions League and Serie A titles. Maldini previously wanted to recall Pirlo’s services to coach Milan before he left his managerial role at the club in June 2023.

The duo meet again in a daunting national mission, especially with Pirlo’s limited training record. He previously coached Juventus to win the Coppa Italia and the domestic Super Cup in the 2020-2021 season, before having spells with Turkey’s Fatih Karagumrak, Italy’s Sampdoria and then United of the United Arab Emirates, who is set to leave for the first team.

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