Andrea Pirlo set to be named new Italy boss following Guardiola's rejection

[p]Widely ‌regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in history, Pirlo won the ‌2006 World Cup with Italy and enjoyed a distinguished ‌club career with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter/Iw7eKK25/"]Inter Milan[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ac-milan/8Sa8HInO/"]AC Milan[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/juventus/C06aJvIB/"]Juventus[/a].[/p][p]The 47-year-old is ‌currently in charge of Dubai's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/united-fc/6s1W4sXk/"]United FC,[/a] who compete in the ‌UAE First Division League.[/p][p]Pirlo managed Juventus during the 2020-21 season, guiding the Turin club to the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup titles.[/p][p]Reuters ‌has contacted the FIGC for comment.[/p][p]The reported agreement ‌came hours after former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] manager Pep Guardiola rejected ​an approach to take charge of Italy, a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Friday.[/p][embed guid="b0dac12d-8f01-4dd0-8112-af673be3be0b" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2080594611345424895" social-type="twitter" /][p]The ​55-year-old Spaniard held talks over becoming Italy's head coach, with FIGC president Giovanni Malago suggesting financial flexibility could be shown ⁠for a candidate of ​his stature.[/p][p]FIGC ‌also sounded out Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti.[/p][p]Italy have been searching for a new coach since Gennaro Gattuso stepped down in April after the four-times world champions failed to qualify for a third successive World Cup finals.[/p][p]Italian football is facing one of its deepest crises in ‌decades, and the appointment of a new national team coach is seen as the first step in a wider effort to rebuild a youth development and talent pathway system that has deteriorated significantly in a country where ⁠football remains a national obsession.[/p]