Pirlo set for Italy job after Guardiola rejection, report says

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has reached an agreement with ‌former Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo to become the national team's coach on a four-year deal, Italian daily La Repubblica reported on Friday.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in history, Pirlo won the 2006 ​World Cup with Italy and enjoyed a distinguished club career with Inter Milan, ​AC Milan and Juventus.

The 47-year-old is currently in charge of Dubai United, ⁠who compete in the UAE First Division League.

Pirlo managed Juventus during the 2020-21 season, ​guiding the Turin club to the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup titles.

Reuters has contacted ​the FIGC for comment.

The reported agreement came hours after former Manchester City and Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola rejected an approach to take charge of Italy, a source familiar with the discussions told ​Reuters on Friday.

The 55-year-old Spaniard held talks over becoming Italy's head coach, with FIGC president Giovanni ​Malago suggesting financial flexibility could be shown for a candidate of his stature.

Italy have been searching for a ‌new ⁠coach since Gennaro Gattuso stepped down in April after the four-times world champions failed to qualify for a third successive World Cup finals.

Guardiola left City at the end of last season after a glittering decade in charge in which he won ​six Premier League titles, ​including an unprecedented four ⁠in succession, as well as three FA Cups, five League Cups and the Champions League.

Before arriving at City in 2016, Guardiola enjoyed great ​success at Barcelona, where he won two Champions League titles and three ​LaLiga crowns, ⁠before adding three Bundesliga titles during his spell at Bayern Munich.

Italian football is facing one of its deepest crises in decades, and the appointment of a new national team coach is seen ⁠as the ​first step in a wider effort to rebuild a ​youth development and talent pathway system that has deteriorated significantly in a country where football remains a national obsession.