Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo has urged Italy fans to have faith that the right head coach is being appointed amid reports Andrea Pirlo has been given the job.
Italy have been without a head coach since Gennaro Gattuso resigned from his position in April, having failed to take the Azzurri to the World Cup.
Italy have now missed the last three editions of the tournament, which made them the first former champions to miss three straight finals, most recently losing the play-off final to Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties.
Several high-profile candidates have been linked with the vacancy, with Pep Guardiola emerging as the top target before he reportedly turned down the job.
Former managers Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte have also been mentioned, as well as Carlo Ancelotti, but Pirlo has supposedly agreed to take on the role.
The former midfielder, who is currently in charge of UAE Pro League club Dubai United, is said to have agreed a four-year deal and is set to be announced next week.
3 – #Italy will miss the #WorldCup for the third consecutive edition; previously, in the competition’s history, it had happened only twice (not participating in 1930 and failing to qualify in 1958). Oblivion.#Bosniaitalia pic.twitter.com/oBAAhw7nx1
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) March 31, 2026
Already, the decision has been criticised, but Di Lorenzo, who won Euro 2020 with Italy, believes it is too early to pass judgement on Pirlo.
“I’m reading some news about Pirlo as coach, and I’m already hearing some criticism,” Di Lorenzo said.
“I say this as an Italian, even before a player, we must have faith in the national team’s new direction.
“There are important figures like [Paolo] Maldini, Leonardo, and President [Giovanni] Malago. They will choose the best person.”
Pirlo has previously taken charge of Juventus – leading them to the Supercoppa Italiana and Coppa Italia in 2021 – only staying for one season.
He has also managed Fatih Karagumruk in the Turkish Super Lig and spent a season with Sampdoria.
If he is named as Italy’s head coach, Pirlo’s first game in charge will be against Belgium in the Nations League on September 25, with Turkiye and France also in their group.
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