Andrea Pirlo is out of the running to become Italy head coach, with a sponsorship deal he holds with a Russian betting firm widely understood to be the reason his candidacy collapsed.

The former Azzurri midfielder confirmed the news via Instagram on Monday, writing that he had "heard last night that I'm no longer the candidate for the Italy national team job". The post followed several days of political pressure from Italian lawmakers who argued a national-team manager should not hold commercial ties to a Russian company while Italy backs Ukraine in the ongoing conflict.

The deal at the centre of the row

Pirlo has been acting as an ambassador for Fonbet, a Russian bookmaker, a relationship he said was tied entirely to his coaching work in the United Arab Emirates. In his statement he was emphatic that the arrangement was "exclusively for commercial and sports purposes", and insisted that "attributing a political significance to that collaboration means attributing beliefs to me that I have never expressed and don't belong to me".

He added that throughout his career he had "always carried out my work in full compliance with the laws of the countries where I have worked and with the contracts I have signed". The defence, however, was not enough to quell the political noise.

Politicians lined up against him

The criticism came from across the Italian political spectrum. Pina Picierno, a vice-president of the European Parliament, said that "Italian football desperately needed a cultural, ethical and managerial revolution" after the Azzurri missed a third successive World Cup, and that the choice of Pirlo "goes in the exact opposite direction".

Ignazio La Russa, president of the Senate and a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's party, voiced doubts about Pirlo's coaching credentials, describing the appointment as "a leap in the dark". Carlo Calenda, leader of the Azione party, was more blunt: "Anyone who is or has been promoting Russia after 2022 should not hold national office."

That level of political opposition proved decisive. Despite Pirlo having the backing of Paolo Maldini — the newly appointed Italian football federation technical director — the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) could not sustain his candidacy against such friction.

Where does Italy go now?

The FIGC had originally turned to Pirlo — who was prepared to leave his role as coach of Dubai United — only after failing to land Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti as a successor to Gennaro Gattuso. Gattuso left the post by mutual consent in April following Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time, a record that has prompted a broader debate about the direction of Italian football.

With Pirlo now removed from contention, attention shifts to Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte, both of whom are reportedly being discussed for the vacancy. Mancini, who led Italy to Euro 2020 glory, and Conte, who has recently been available after leaving club management, represent significantly less controversial options — at least in terms of political optics.

The episode illustrates how the job of managing a major national side has moved well beyond the training ground. Pirlo may be right that a commercial deal carried no political intent, but in the current climate, the lines between sport, business and geopolitics have rarely felt thinner.

FAQs

Frequently asked

Why is Andrea Pirlo not going to be Italy manager?
Pirlo's candidacy fell apart after Italian politicians raised objections to his ambassadorial role with Fonbet, a Russian betting company. Several lawmakers argued it was inappropriate for a national-team coach to hold such ties while Italy supports Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Who is now favourite to become the next Italy manager?
According to reports, former Italy coaches Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte are now the leading candidates being considered by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) to take the Azzurri job.
Why does Italy need a new manager?
Gennaro Gattuso left the Italy head-coach role by mutual consent in April 2026 after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for a third successive tournament, prompting a major review of the national team's setup.