The appointment of Andrea Pirlo as Italy’s new head coach has been met with a largely negative reaction across Italy, with many journalists, supporters and football pundits questioning the decision to hand him the role during one of the darkest periods in the Azzurri’s history.
Following Pep Guardiola’s rejection of the job, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) turned to the 2006 World Cup winner, who is expected to sign a contract until the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
However, the announcement has divided opinion, with much of the criticism centred on Pirlo’s limited managerial experience. Although he won the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup during his only season at Juventus, his subsequent spells at Fatih Karagümrük, Sampdoria and Dubai United have done little to convince many that he is the right man to rebuild the national team.
Several leading Italian newspapers have voiced their concerns. Corriere dello Sport described the public reaction as “very harsh”, suggesting the appointment had caught federation president Giovanni Malagò by surprise because of the overwhelmingly negative response from supporters.
Corriere della Sera was equally critical, describing the decision as “a step backwards” after Italy had first explored the possibility of appointing Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola before ultimately settling on Pirlo. The newspaper also highlighted a readers’ poll in which Pirlo finished well behind Ancelotti, Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini as fans’ preferred choice.
Earlier this month, SportMediaset reported that Pirlo’s candidacy had already divided the country, with many supporters, journalists and even several Serie A clubs favouring the appointment of Antonio Conte instead. The report described the atmosphere surrounding the decision as far from ideal for a national team attempting to rebuild after failing to qualify for three consecutive World Cups.
Reaction on social media has reflected that scepticism. While some supporters believe Pirlo deserves an opportunity because of his football intelligence and his close working relationship with technical director Paolo Maldini, many others have questioned why Italy overlooked more experienced coaches such as Conte or Roberto Mancini.
Pirlo now faces the difficult task of winning over a sceptical public as he attempts to restore one of world football’s most successful nations after an unprecedented period of decline.
