Rome, 25 July 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Former World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo will become Italy's new national coach, according to media reports from Friday.

The 47-year-old will succeed his former teammate Gennaro Gattuso, who resigned in April after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup once again, the sport newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport and other outlets reported.

After Pep Guardiola declined the offer, Pirlo and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) quickly reached an agreement, they reported. There has been no official confirmation of this yet.

The 116-time international - one of the key players in Italy's 2006 World Cup victory in Germany - is expected to receive a four-year contract with the goal of leading the team to the 2030 World Cup.

He is currently still under contract with United FC Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

After the end of his playing career, which included stints at the two Milan clubs Inter and AC Milan, as well as Juventus Turin, Pirlo worked as a coach at clubs including Juventus and Sampdoria Genoa, albeit with moderate success.

Photo: EPA