How Russian links ruined Pirlo's Italy dream

News

FT Desk

Andrea Pirlo is no longer in the running to become the new head coach of Italy.

The Azzurri are in a state of transition after they failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row - something that's never happened before in their history.

In the playoff stage in March, they were defeated on penalties by Bosnia & Herzegovina. Gennaro Gattuso, who had been brought in to firefight the nation's World Cup qualifying campaign after Luciano Spalletti was fired, was also let go, which catalysed the hunt for a new head coach.

Italy's number one target for the job was an ambitious one, Pep Guardiola, and they were prepared to spend big to land the former Manchester City boss. However, he plans on taking a year away from the game after a decade at the helm of the Premier League side.

Thereafter, Pirlo was eventually identified as the man for the job by the newly appointed Italian football federation technical director, and his former team-mate, ‌Paolo Maldini.

With Maldini's backing, it appeared like the job would be given to Pirlo, but then concerns were raised by various Italian politicians about the World Cup winner's business dealings with Russia, and in particular, billionaire Sergey Lomakin.

Lomakin is the owner and president of United FC Dubai, the club Pirlo has coached since 2025. Separately, Pirlo signed a deal to become a global ambassador for Fonbet, one of Russia's largest betting companies. Italian media reported that Lomakin has business interests connected to Fonbet, leading to public scrutiny over whether Pirlo's coaching job and ambassador role were linked.

The billionaire made his fortune primarily in retail, building and investing in discount store chains in Russia. He is best known as the co-founder of Fix Price, a retailer launched in 2007 that sells everyday household goods, food, and personal items.

In addition to United FC Dubai, he has invested in other clubs such as Russia's FC Rodina and Cypriot side Pafos FC.

Pirlo himself has maintained that his relationship with Fonbet is purely commercial and sporting, not political. He said the agreement originated during his work in the United Arab Emirates and rejected suggestions that it reflected any political stance.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, this caused friction between Pirlo and former team-mate Andriy Shevchenko due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Several politicians reacted unfavourably to the rumours that Italy were about to appoint Pirlo.

“After yet another defeat and another missed World Cup qualification, Italian football desperately needed a cultural, ethical and managerial revolution. The choice of Andrea Pirlo goes in the exact opposite direction,” Pina Picierno, a vice-president of the European Parliament, said on social media.

Ignazio La Russa, the head of the Senate and a member of prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s party, told news outlet Ansa: “I am speaking ​only because you called me: ‌God help us. Of course ​I am an Italy fan ​and Pirlo was a great champion, but as a coach, it is a leap in the dark.”

Carlo Calenda, leader of the Azione party, said: “Anyone who is or has been promoting Russia after 2022 should not hold national office."

The criticism proved too much for the Italian football federation as they have now moved on to other targets, with Pirlo's dream of managing the Azzurri in tatters.

Writing on social media on Monday, Pirlo said he “heard last night that I’m no longer the candidate for the Italy national team job”.

Pirlo added: “Attributing a political significance to that collaboration means attributing beliefs to me that I have never expressed and don’t belong to me.

"Over the past few days, I have watched with great bitterness the debate that has developed around my name and the possibility of taking on the role of head coach of the Italian national team. Throughout my career, first as a player and now as a coach, I have 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.“

In addition to Guardiola, Italy also failed in an approach for their second choice for the job, Carlo Ancelotti, who will continue as head coach of Brazil.