Italy's search for a new manager has turned into a complete shambles, with Andrea Pirlo's potential appointment vetoed and top officials resigning. The Azzurri, once a powerhouse of world football, have failed to qualify for the last three men's World Cups, and their recent managerial saga has only deepened the crisis.
Pirlo Appointment Vetoed
Andrea Pirlo was reportedly offered the job but his appointment was blocked due to public backlash over his second autobiography, which promoted a Russian betting company. The veto came from the president of the Italian football federation, leading to the resignation of technical director Paolo Maldini and his adviser Leonardo, who had only been in their roles for three weeks.
Former Managers in the Running
The favorites for the position are now Roberto Mancini, who led Italy to victory at Euro 2020, and Antonio Conte, who took them to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals. Italian media lean towards Mancini, but both face the dilemma of whether to return to a national team in disarray. Despite the current chaos, the only way is up for Italian football, and qualification for the 2030 World Cup seems likely given FIFA's expansion plans.
France's Stability Contrasts
In contrast, France has been a model of stability. Since their 2010 World Cup debacle, they have had consistent management under Didier Deschamps for 14 years. The appointment of Zinedine Zidane as his replacement was widely expected. Zidane, who won three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid, expressed his dream to manage France: 'For me it’s a continuity, a dream. I had some offers during the five years I was away to take charge of a club but I turned them all down for the France team. It was the only thing I wanted to do.'
Quote of the Day
Liverpool's Milos Kerkez clarified a misunderstanding about his summer: 'No! This is wrong, everyone gets this wrong! It was my oldest brother. In Serbia it is normal for the younger brothers to take the bride to the church. That’s what I did and now everyone thinks I got married. It was Rade, not me. There are three of us – Rade is the oldest, I’m the youngest and Marko is the middle one. I keep having to explain to people that I never got married.'
Letters
Readers responded to Gianni Infantino's comments about concerns for the game's future. John Scent noted: 'How refreshing to read from Gianni Infantino that those of us who fear for the future of the game should go and chill. No mention of inflated ticket prices, difficulty using over-priced public transport to reach stadiums, or massive profits made by Fifa from its reselling site.' Derek McGee commented on Jermain Defoe's departure: 'There’s such a lack of clarity over what went on. You might say it’s utter Woking nonsense.'
