Italian football figure Valentini has issued a stark warning to the FIGC about the prospect of appointing Andrea Pirlo as the next head coach of the Italian national team, instead pointing to Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte as the safe, proven options.
Pirlo’s name has emerged on the shortlist to take over the Azzurri, but Valentini believes it would be an unnecessary risk given the available alternatives.
“Mancini and Conte are certainties. Pirlo would be a gamble,” Valentini is quoted as saying in an interview reported by Football Italia.
The former midfield maestro, who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, has limited senior coaching experience. His only top-flight managerial role came with Juventus during the 2020-21 season, where he guided the club to a fourth-place Serie A finish and Coppa Italia success, but was ultimately replaced by Massimiliano Allegri. Since then, Pirlo has been out of management following a brief spell in Turkey.
In contrast, Mancini remains a popular figure after leading Italy to UEFA Euro 2020 glory—ending a 53-year wait for the trophy—while Conte boasts an impressive resumé with league titles at Juventus, Chelsea and Inter. Both are currently available and would bring instant credibility to the Azzurri bench.
The FIGC is yet to make a final decision, but with the pressure mounting after a disappointing World Cup campaign, the clamour for a steady hand grows louder. Valentini’s intervention only adds to the sense that turning to a relative novice like Pirlo could be a mistake Italy cannot afford.
