Andrea Pirlo has now definitively confirmed that he is no longer in the running to become the next head coach of the Italy national team, and says that he feels ‘bitter’ about the way the situation unfolded over the last few days.
Pirlo had become the frontrunner to take over as head coach of the Italy national team after it was confirmed that neither Pep Guardiola nor Carlo Ancelotti would be taking on the job.
Pirlo’s candidacy was strongly supported by newly-appointed FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini and his advisor Leonardo, but complications away from the pitch saw the situations descend rapidly into controversy.
Over the weekend, it emerged that Pirlo was a global brand ambassador for the Russian betting company Fonbet, and as Italy has strict laws regarding the advertising of gambling, this made his appointment as the next Italy head coach extremely unlikely.
Pirlo released a statement on Sunday evening, thanking Maldini and Leonardo while hinting that he was no longer in the running for the Italy national team job.
He has since posted an updated version of that statement to his Instagram story, confirming that he is definitively out of the race to become the next Italy head coach.
Pirlo posts updated statement: ‘After learning last night that I am no longer a candidate for the Italy position …’
REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – MAY 12: Andrea Pirlo, Head Coach of Juventus looks on prior to the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and Juventus at Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore on May 12, 2021 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. Sporting stadiums around Italy remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
“Out of respect for the institutions, the federation and everybody involved, I have chosen to remain silent until now. However, after learning last night that I am no longer a candidate for the Italy national team head coach position, I feel it is necessary to clarify a few points,” Pirlo wrote.
“Over the past few days, I have watched with great bitterness as the debate regarding my name and the possibility of my taking on the role of Italy national team head coach unfold.
“Throughout my career, first as a player and then as a coach, I have always performed my duties within full respect of the laws of the countries I have worked in and the contracts I signed.
Official: Andrea Pirlo is the new head coach of the Dubai-based United FC of the UAE first division.
“The professional collaboration that is the subject of recent controversy came about as part of my working experience in the United Arab Emirates and is exclusively of a commercial and sporting nature. Attributing political meaning to this collaboration means attributing convictions to me that I have never expressed and that I do not hold.
“I wish to thank Maldini and Leonardo for the respect and faith that they showed in me. I know their competence, their seriousness, and the love that they have always dedicated to Italian football.
“However, it is regrettable that a decision based on sporting grounds was quickly dragged into a public debate that ended up attribution motives and intentions to ny name that never existed. My love for Italy does not depend on a job. It is part of my history, my identity, and will continue to accompany me, always.”
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