Andrea Pirlo he will not be the new coach of the Italian national teamThe decision, which came after days of controversy, was taken by the president of the FIGC Giovanni Malago, which he decided to block an appointment ormai considerata a un passo dalla firma. Quella che doveva essere la scelta per rilanciare l’Italia si è trasformata in una crisi che coinvolge non solo il futuro della panchina azzurra, ma anche gli equilibri interni della Federazione perché Paolo Maldini si è dimesso da Direttore tecnico della Figc e con lui il consulente Leonardo: erano stati loro a sostenere Pirlo.
Why Pirlo won't be Italy's new coach: the Fonbet case and his relationship with Russia
What caused the candidacy to fail was not technical considerations, but a question of institutional expediency.
Pirlo is in fact global ambassador of font, the main Russian bookmaker. At the end of May he participated in the final of the Russian Cup in Moscow and in an event organized by the company together with Marco materazziThe presence of the two former world champions had aroused strong controversy because the initiative had taken place during the days of heavy Russian bombing of Ukraine.
After the 2022 invasion, several European clubs cut commercial ties with Fonbet, while promotional images featuring Pirlo still appear on the company's website. According to various journalistic reports, Fonbet's main shareholders include: Sergey Lomakin, Russian businessman and owner of the United FC, the United Arab Emirates club coached by Pirlo himself. This further fueled the controversy.
Among the aspects that have come under examination there would also be the position of the son Nicholas Pirlo, sports agent, who is said to be under investigation for possible incompatibility with a federal position.
Malagò's decision: "Pirlo can't be the coach."
Until a few hours ago, the final decision seemed imminent. Final meetings were scheduled to finalize Pirlo's contract termination with United FC and finalize the signing with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
Then the change of scenery. During the meetings of the last few days, Malagò explained to his collaborators that the problem did not concern the former midfielder's qualities as a coach, but the risk of handing the national team over to a political and institutional controversy even before the start of the new cycle. The FIGC's lawyer Giancarlo Viglione, responsible for institutional relations and the legislative office of the Federation, would have examined the agreements relating to the former midfielder.
The investigations revealed that the relationship with Fonbet and the contract as manager of United FC were two separate and distinct agreements. The problem, therefore, was not a direct connection between the Emirati club and the Russian bookmaker, but the fact that Pirlo still had a personal relationship with a Russian betting company. A factor that, according to the Federation, would have made his appointment as Italy's national coach too complicated.
Pirlo's outburst: "I've learned I'm no longer the candidate."
From training camp in Austria Andrea Pirlo has entrusted its role to social media sfogo.
I have witnessed with great bitterness the debate that has developed around my name and the possibility of serving as national team coach. I have always conducted my activities in compliance with the laws of the countries where I have worked and the contracts I have signed. The controversial collaboration arose within the context of my career in the United Arab Emirates and is exclusively commercial and sporting in nature. Attributing political significance to it means attributing to me beliefs I have never expressed and which are not my own.
With a subsequent story published on Instagram, Pirlo then announced the end of his run to the Azzurri bench. "I learned last night that I am no longer a candidate for the Italian national team bench." The former world champion thanked Paolo Maldini and Leonardo for their trust, without mentioning Malagò, adding that he regretted that "a sporting decision was quickly dragged into a public debate."
Maldini e Leonardo lasciano
Lo stop a Pirlo provoca un vero earthquake at the top of the FIGC.
Paolo Maldini had identified the former Azzurri playmaker as the ideal candidate for the national team's new direction, and considers the choice of coach to be a prerogative of the technical department. Malagò, however, insists the president has a role in evaluating institutional options.
Dopo l’addio di Maldini, tra i nomi che circolano per un possibile riassetto dell’area tecnica c’è anche quello di Giorgio Chiellini, while Claudio Ranieri he is indicated as a possible figure of balance in federal governance.
Chi sarà il nuovo ct dell’Italia dopo Pirlo: Mancini, Conte e Baldini in corsa. Improbabile Thiago Motta
With Pirlo definitely out of the game, the FIGC must now quickly find the new technical commissionerThe name that remains in the foreground is that of Roberto Mancini, considered a profile that Malagò would appreciate due to his experience and knowledge of the Azzurri environment. The former coach, a European champion with Italy in 2021, would represent an immediate solution for a national team called upon to recover.
It also stays in the background Antonio Conte, who was Italy's coach from 2014 to 2016, although his profile would not have been the one preferred by Maldini and Leonardo for a long-term project. If the technical director were to remain in his position, he could also gain ground Silvio Baldini, attuale commissario tecnico dell’Under 21. E’ circolato anche il nome di Thiago Motta ma dopo il flop alla Juve la sua candidatura è improbabile.
What happens now to the Italian national team?
Il tempo stringe. Prima del Consiglio federale in programma domani, Malagò incontrerà le componenti federali.
The aim of the FIGC is close by July 31st the dossier on the new coach and give the national team a guide in view of the upcoming commitments.
After days of negotiations, meetings, and controversy, the Pirlo case has completely changed the landscape: from the favorite candidate for the Italy coaching position to the outlier, with the Federation now faced with rebuilding not only its coaching staff but also the internal balance of power that has been severely strained by the affair.
