Negotiations to appoint Andrea Pirlo as head coach of the Italy national football team have collapsed. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) halted the selection process following a review of Pirlo’s commercial agreement with Russian bookmaker FONBET.
Partnership Review and Candidate Status
Pirlo remained the primary candidate for the position, receiving backing from FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini and federation advisor Leonardo. Officials examined the terms of the bookmaker sponsorship to verify alignment with national team guidelines. The assessment also covered Pirlo’s planned trip to Moscow in May 2026.
Pirlo stated that the commercial arrangement originates from his coaching position in the United Arab Emirates, where he has led United FC since 2025. News of his potential appointment prompted objections from several Italian politicians. Pirlo later announced on Instagram that the federation has withdrawn his candidacy, characterizing the bookmaker partnership as exclusively commercial and sporting.
The Italian Football Federation continues its search for a new national team head coach. (Source: GGM: iGaming News)