Pirlo, as a player, was instrumental in Italy’s triumph at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, winning the Bronze Ball and being selected for the Team of the Tournament.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Italian tactician and former Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo has accepted a verbal proposal and is set to become the new Italy head coach.
This was disclosed on Friday evening in a post shared on X by Italian journalist and football expert Fabrizio Romano.
According to Romano, Pirlo bought into the long-term project presented by the Technical Director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Paolo Maldini, and the special advisor for the Italian FA, Leonardo.
He added that Pirlo will sign a contract soon, after the necessary steps have been taken and concluded.
Taking to his verified account, Fabrizio wrote: “Andrea Pirlo accepts the verbal proposal and he’s set to become new Italy head coach, here we go!
”Pirlo said yes to long term project presented by Paolo Maldini and Leonardo.
”He’s set to sign in the upcoming days, waiting for formal steps.”
Pirlo began his club career in 1995 as an attacking midfielder with his hometown club Brescia, winning Serie B in 1997.
He signed for Serie A club Inter Milan a year later, but limited game time and loans away from the club saw him transfer to cross-city rivals AC Milan in 2001. There, Pirlo matured into a world-class player in a deep-lying playmaker role, winning two Serie A titles, two Champions League trophies, two UEFA Super Cups, a FIFA Club World Cup, a Coppa Italia, and a Supercoppa Italiana.
He departed for Juventus in 2011, where he won four consecutive Serie A titles, two Supercoppa Italiana titles, and another Coppa Italia.
At international level, the 47-year-old played 116 matches for the Italy national football team, which is the fifth-most of all time.
He made his senior debut in 2002 and captained his nation to a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics.
Pirlo was instrumental in Italy’s triumph at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, winning the Bronze Ball and being selected for the Team of the Tournament.
