England Advised Against Guardiola Chase Amid Pirlo's Italy Deal
WHO:
Goal.com - Harry Redknapp, Pep Guardiola, Andrea Pirlo, Carlo Ancelotti, Gennaro Gattuso, Paolo Maldini, Leonardo
OneFootball - Andrea Pirlo, Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, Gennaro Gattuso, Paolo Maldini, Leonardo
WHAT:
Goal.com - Redknapp stated, "At club level, Pep’s always had massive money to spend. In international football, there are no chequebooks."
OneFootball - The Azzurri have not secured a head coach since Gennaro Gattuso resigned after their failed 2026 World Cup play-offs.
OneFootball - Pirlo's coaching career includes winning the Coppa Italia during his one season at Juventus and a year with Karagumruk in Turkiye.
Goal.com - Redknapp warned that English football could face struggles similar to Italy's, stating that Guardiola is not the solution for England's quest for silverware.
Goal.com - Guardiola declined an offer to become the head coach of the Italy national team.
OneFootball - Andrea Pirlo is expected to take over as the new Italy coach with a contract lasting until the 2030 World Cup.
OneFootball - The announcement of Pirlo's appointment could come before the weekend is out.
OneFootball - Pirlo's contract with Italy is expected to be worth approximately €1.5 million per season.
WHERE:
Goal.com - England, Italy
OneFootball - Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy; Dubai, UAE
WHEN:
OneFootball - Pirlo's contract with Italy is expected to run until the end of the 2030 World Cup.
OneFootball - Pirlo was appointed head coach of United FC in July 2025.
WHY:
OneFootball - The decision to pursue Pirlo is based on his strong bond with Maldini and Leonardo, and their belief that he would be receptive to ideas for revamping youth academies.
Goal.com - Redknapp expressed concerns that England could face a similar fate to Italy, which has missed out on back-to-back World Cups.
OneFootball - The decision to pursue Pirlo is influenced by his strong bond with Maldini and Leonardo, and their belief that he would be receptive to ideas for revamping youth academies.
HOW:
OneFootball - Technical director Paolo Maldini and special advisor Leonardo confirmed they had spoken to Ancelotti first, then to Guardiola, before focusing on Pirlo.
OneFootball - Technical director Paolo Maldini and special advisor Leonardo confirmed they spoke to Ancelotti and Guardiola before focusing on Pirlo.
(UPDATED July 26, 2026 20:18 UTC)
Italy's national football team is looking to appoint a new head coach following Gennaro Gattuso's resignation after the team's unsuccessful bid for the 2026 World Cup. Technical director Paolo Maldini and special advisor Leonardo initially reached out to Ancelotti and Guardiola before deciding to pursue Andrea Pirlo, whose coaching experience includes winning the Coppa Italia with Juventus. Their decision is influenced by Pirlo's strong relationship with both Maldini and Leonardo, as they believe he would be open to innovative ideas for improving youth academies.
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(UPDATED July 26, 2026 19:27 UTC)
Harry Redknapp has raised concerns that English football might encounter challenges akin to those faced by Italy, suggesting that Pep Guardiola isn't the answer to England's pursuit of silverware. Meanwhile, Andrea Pirlo is poised to become the new head coach of the Italy national team, with an announcement expected before the weekend, and his contract is projected to be worth around €1.5 million per season, lasting until the end of the 2030 World Cup. This decision comes after discussions among technical director Paolo Maldini, special advisor Leonardo, and other top coaches, highlighting their confidence in Pirlo's ability to revamp youth academies.