Turin (AP) - After the coach surprise at Juventus Turin, football Italy is looking forward to Andrea Pirlo as head coach. The former exceptional player takes over the record champions as a novice with no experience on the sidelines.
The 41-year-old signed a contract on August 8 to replace Maurizio Sarri for two years until 2022. "Pirlo has exceptional intellectual abilities," said his 2006 world champion teammate, Alessandro Del Piero, at Sky. "Andrea knows the environment, the players and the club. That is of course a big surprise, but he will achieve great things."
Turin football boss Fabio Paratici has high hopes. "The boy was one of us, played for us and has always stayed in contact with us. We also remember that he can be a chosen one, just like he was as a footballer," he said.
Pirlo had ended his long career, during which he was world champion, Champions League winner and multiple Italian champion, at the end of 2017 in New York City in the MLS. It was only at the end of July that he signed a contract with Juventus as a U23 coach - a good week later he was promoted to head coach of the professionals around superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. "Do I have to call you Mister now!?!?!", Flattest goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon on Instagram. The two had played together for years in the club and in the national team.
Former national player Alessandro Costacurta, who won the Champions League twice with AC Milan together with Pirlo, wishes the former midfield director a connection to the new generation of players. "This choice is a risk, there is no doubt about it, both for Andrea and Juve. But it's a nice bet. I didn't expect it, maybe neither did he."
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Del Piero at Sky
Buffon on Instagram
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