Pirlo bitter over debate that cost him Italy coaching job
The 47-year-old was the favourite to be tasked with reviving the national side’s fortunes
Former Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who was favoured for the national coaching post, expressed his bitterness on Monday over the debate which has led to him no longer being a candidate.
The 47-year-old had, to many Italian fans’ surprise, become the favourite to be tasked with reviving the national side’s fortunes after they failed for the third successive time to qualify for the World Cup.
He had benefitted from Spanish great Pep Guardiola declining an offer.
Whilst Pirlo had a stellar playing career – including being a key member of the 2006 World Cup-winning side – his coaching CV is short on success.
A contract with a Russian betting firm had only added fuel to misgivings.
“(I) learned yesterday evening that I am no longer a candidate to be coach of the national side,” he wrote in a post on Instagram, adding that he felt the need to “clarify certain points”.
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