Pirlo Out as Italy Coach Amid Russia Ties | Global News

Andrea Pirlo’s dream of coaching Italy just fizzled out after a firestorm over his ties to Russian betting giant Fonbet — a company linked to Kremlin propaganda and Ukraine war events. Despite being close to the job, politicians balked, calling his presence a betrayal after 2022. Pirlo insists his work was purely commercial, not political — but the backlash has rattled the Italian Football Federation and its new technical director, Paolo Maldini, who may now face the axe. With Italy still reeling from World Cup qualification failure, the hunt for a new coach intensifies — names like Guardiola, Ancelotti, Conte, and Mancini are swirling — as the Azzurri gear up for Nations League clashes and aim to make Euro 2028. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/bc08e36fb25d42b4