Andrea Radrizzani is on the verge of making his first head coach appointment at Sampdoria and it’s fair to say he’s landed a huge name. Andrea Pirlo is the man in the frame, according to Gianluca Di Marzio, with the former Italy international set to be formally announced by Radrizzani in the coming days.
Radrizzani’s takeover of Sampdoria still hasn’t been officially finalised but having seen budgets approved and old board members step down, it is considered to be a formality. As such, while his sale of Leeds United goes through, he has been getting to work on preparations for Sampdoria’s new season in Serie B having saved the club from bankruptcy.
It seems as though he has pulled off quite the coup when it comes to appointing a new manager, too, with Pirlo expected to sign a two-year deal at the Genoa club. Pirlo, who collected 116 caps for Italy as a player and has a trophy cabinet that includes a World Cup winners’ medal, alongside two Champions League gongs and six Serie A titles, retired from playing in 2017 and has been trying to build a name for himself in management since.
He was appointed Juventus manager in August 2020, but despite winning the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana, he was sacked at the end of his first season. He spent last season in charge of Turkish outfit Fatih Karagumruk, but again he only lasted one campaign and he left the club at the end of May this year.
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As such, he has been looking for a new job and after impressing during three meetings with Radrizzani, the former midfielder looks to have got the gig. Pirlo’s former Italy teammate Fabio Grosso was also in the running, but an agreement could not be reached with him.
Radrizzani spent six years as owner of Leeds having taken over in 2017, but after seeing Leeds relegated from the top flight he is in the process of selling his 56 per cent stake to 49ers Enterprises.
