Andrea Pirlo, the 2006 world champion with the Italian national team, has distanced himself from returning to lead the team as a successor to the former coach Gennaro Gattuso, who left after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Andrea Pirlo's chances of coaching the Italian national team have diminished due to his association with betting issues in Russia, and the chances of several other candidates to lead the Azzurri have increased.
According to the Italian newspaper "La Gazzetta dello Sport," new candidate names such as Antonio Conte, Roberto Mancini, Stefano Pioli, and Raffaele Palladino have emerged on the list for coaching Italy.
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Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti had rejected the opportunity to coach the Italian national team after receiving an offer from Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, who then turned their attention to Pirlo.
Pirlo faced a major wave of resentment in Italy due to his role as a global ambassador for a Russian brand specializing in betting, and tensions arose regarding the possibility of legal action if he took over coaching the national team.
The Italian Federation is currently considering names such as Antonio Conte or Roberto Mancini, and it seems that Mancini is the most eager for the position and the least costly, although the duo may not be happy about being nominated as alternatives to Pirlo.