Pirlo withdraws from Italy coaching job over Russian betting firm sponsorship

Andrea Pirlo announced Monday via Instagram that he has withdrawn from candidacy for the Italy national team coaching position, citing political pressure over his sponsorship deal with Fonbet, a Russian betting firm. Pirlo stated he 'heard last night that I'm no longer the candidate for the Italy national team job,' according to ESPN's reporting.

Italian politicians raised concerns about Pirlo's contract as ambassador for Fonbet, arguing that the national team coach should not carry conflicting views on Italy's support for Ukraine in the war with Russia. Pirlo disputed this framing, stating the deal was 'exclusively for commercial and sports purposes' and denying that attributing political significance to it means assigning him beliefs he never expressed. He added: 'My love for Italy doesn't depend on a job. It's part of my history, my identity and it will remain forever.'

Pirlo was prepared to leave his current job as coach of Dubai United to take the Italy position. Paolo Maldini, the technical director charged with rebuilding Italy's coaching structure, had championed Pirlo, preferring him over candidates like Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte because he was seen as more willing to adapt to new policies and promote younger players in an attack-minded system. However, Maldini is now reportedly considering stepping down just 16 days into his role due to the opposition over Pirlo's betting ties.

Italy's coaching vacancy underscores a deeper instability. Gennaro Gattuso left by mutual consent in April after Italy lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina in a World Cup qualifying playoff. Before Pirlo emerged as Maldini's choice, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti had both turned down offers for the position, according to ESPN. Italy failed to qualify for three straight World Cups, marking a historic drought.

Maldini's preferred candidate now gone, the federation is reportedly revisiting Mancini and Conte. Mancini coached Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 but failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup before departing for Saudi Arabia's national team, which he left in 2024; he most recently coached Al Sadd in Qatar. Conte guided Italy to the 2016 European Championship quarterfinals and was most recently at Napoli. Simone Inzaghi, the former Inter Milan coach currently in the Saudi Pro League, is another option. Italian federation president Giovanni Malagò, elected in June after leading the Milan Cortina Olympics organizing committee, has final say on the next coach.

Whoever is hired will be Italy's fourth coach in as many years. Luciano Spalletti was fired after Italy lost its opening qualifier to Norway, and Claudio Ranieri turned down an offer to replace him before Gattuso was hired. Italy plays next in September and October, when it faces Belgium, Turkey, and France in the Nations League.