Statement

Writing on Instagram, Pirlo said he had watched the debate over his candidacy unfold with real bitterness. He thanked Paolo Maldini, the federation's new technical director, and his Brazilian adviser Leonardo for the faith they had shown in him but made clear he felt the conversation around his appointment had spiralled into something well beyond football — one where motives and views he says he never held were pinned on him.

Why it fell apart

Italian outlets had reported that Pirlo, 47, was set to be confirmed this week as head coach of the Azzurri — a side still reeling from missing three consecutive World Cups in a row, in 2018, 2022 and 2026. But the appointment faced problems almost immediately. Pirlo's managerial CV is thin by national-team standards — Juventus, Karagümrük in Turkey, Sampdoria, and his current post at United FC — and that alone raised eyebrows. What really sank it, though, was his ambassador deal with Russian betting firm Fonbet, which triggered a wave of criticism in Italy over the past few days.

Malagò's opposition

Federation president Giovanni Malagò had reportedly been against handing Pirlo the job from the outset. Maldini and Leonardo had pushed for him over the more experienced Antonio Conte, who has been out of work since leaving Napoli, though Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Conte — who has previously managed Juventus, Inter, Chelsea and Tottenham and already held the Italy job between 2014 and 2016 — could yet come back into the picture.

Before settling on Pirlo, Maldini and Leonardo had also tried to bring in Pep Guardiola, but the Spaniard turned them down.