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FrankreichAugust 15, 2026

Mancini's successor: Pirlo polarizes, best options

Andrea Pirlo is the favorite to become coach of the Italian national team, but is already dividing opinions even before a possible commitment.

Mancini's successor: Pirlo polarized, best options

According to Sports.

Background

Andrea Pirlo, the favorite to coach the Italian national team, has had an impressive playing career, including winning the World Cup. However, his lack of experience as a coach is seen by many as a potential obstacle. The debate over his suitability reflects the deep emotions and passion that football evokes in Italy.

Why this is important

The discussion about Andrea Pirlo as a possible successor to Roberto Mancini is of great importance for Italian football. Pirlo is not only an identification figure, but also a symbol of Italian football culture. The divided opinions about his suitability reflect the high expectations placed on the national team coach, especially with a view to the upcoming European Championships in 2024.

Key findings

  • Mancini's successor: Pirlo polarized, best options.
  • Andrea Pirlo is the favorite to become coach of the Italian national team, but is already dividing opinions about a possible commitment.
  • Next Italy coach: Pirlo links cause controversy, what’s the best option?.
The news that Andrea Pirlo is the favorite to coach the Italian national team is already dividing opinions in advance of his possible appointment. Lorenzo Bettinelli, sports journalist for the Italian daily newspaper \u0022Il Tempo\u0022, explains in an interview with \u0022Goal\u0022 why Pirlo receives both approval and rejection in Italy and whether he should actually be the best choice for the new DFB coach. \u0022Goal\u0022: Andrea Pirlo is considered the favorite to become coach of the Italian national team. Why does this possible commitment cause so many divided opinions in Italy? Lorenzo Bettinelli: \u0022Pirlo's personality is causing a lot of discussion in Italy because on the one hand he is a great identification figure for the fans, but on the other hand there are also many people who say that he does not have the necessary experience to lead a national team. In Italy this is still seen as a task that requires a lot of experience, especially when you are entering a tournament, as is now the case with the 2024 European Championship. Therefore, he has many supporters, but also many critics.\u0022 \u0022Goal\u0022: To what extent do the national team's last results under Mancini play a role in the discussion about Pirlo's personality? Lorenzo Bettinelli: \u0022I think they play a big role. The team hasn't played well in the last few months. The let The last few games were rather weak, even if qualification for the 2024 European Championship was achieved. But there are many doubts about the way the team plays and also about the choice of players. That's why every new coach's personality that is being discussed will now also be checked for its sporting quality. And of course the coaches from yesterday are playing, i.e. those who have just been kicked out, like Spalletti or Conte, and we are looking at whether the people who are now being suggested, like Pirlo for example, fit the sporting assessment that the media and the fans have now made. And of course Pirlo has a lot of doubts because he has no experience.\u0022 \u0022Goal\u0022: If not Pirlo, what other personnel would be more popular in Italy than new coaches for the national team? Lorenzo Bettinelli: \u0022I think a personality that would get a lot of approval would be Luciano Spalletti. Spalletti is, I think, 100 percent accepted by the associations, by the fans and by the media. But the question is, will Spalletti accept to take the job? Because he has just quit as coach of Napoli and he probably wants to take a break, a longer break, maybe even until next season, until next season. Therefore, that would be a personality that would please one hundred percent, but does she want to, is she, is he willing to take that job right now? That is the question. Another name that is discussed a lot is Antonio Conte, but I think Conte would bring a lot of division in the media and among fans, because while he has a lot of supporters, he also has a lot of critics. So it would be more of a divisive choice. But again, a choice that would have more experience than Pirlo. And then there are names like Marco Rose or Oliver Glasner, but they would be more or less accepted by the media. The fans are not really enthusiastic about these two names. So at the moment, I think Spalletti would be the best choice for the federation.

What happens next

The decision on Pirlo's possible appointment is expected to be made soon as preparations for Euro 2024 are already well underway. The discussions about his qualifications and the national team's recent performances under Mancini could be crucial to the final choice. Whatever the decision, Italian football will remain the focus of attention as fans hope for a positive development.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the favorite to become coach of the Italian national team?

Andrea Pirlo is considered the favorite to coach the Italian national team.

Why are there divided opinions about Andrea Pirlo as a coach?

The divided opinions about Andrea Pirlo result from his great identification figure for the fans, but also from concerns obviously his lack of experience to lead a national team.

What does Lorenzo Bettinelli say about the discussion about Pirlo?

Lorenzo Bettinelli explains that the discussion about Pirlo is heavily influenced by the national team's performance under Mancini, as the last few games have been weak.

What role do the national team's latest results play in the discussion about Pirlo?

The recent results of the national team under Mancini play a big role as they raise doubts about the style of play and the selection of players.

Why is now the right time to discuss a new coach?

The discussion about a new coach is relevant now as the Italian national team prepares for the 2024 European Championships.

Related articles

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Who is the favorite to coach the Italian national team?
Andrea Pirlo is considered the favorite to coach the Italian national team.
Why are there divided opinions about Andrea Pirlo as a coach?
The divided opinions about Andrea Pirlo result from his great identification figure for fans, but also from concerns about his lack of experience to lead a national team.
What does Lorenzo Bettinelli say about the discussion about Pirlo?
Lorenzo Bettinelli explains that the Pirlo discussion is heavily influenced by the national team's performance under Mancini, as the last few games have been weak.
What role do the national team's latest results play in the discussion about Pirlo?
The national team's recent results under Mancini play a big role as they raise doubts about the style of play and player selection.
Why is now the right time to discuss a new coach?
The discussion about a new coach is relevant now as the Italian national team prepares for the 2024 European Championships.
What happened in this story?
Mancini's successor: Pirlo polarized, best options summarizes the main development covered in this report.
Who confirmed this news?
See the source attribution in the article for where this report was first published or corroborated.