AFP | Rome

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Former Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who was favoured for the national coaching post, expressed his bitterness yesterday over the debate which has led to him no longer being a candidate.

The 47-year-old had, to many Italian fans' surprise, become the favourite to be tasked with reviving the national side's fortunes after they failed for the third successive time to qualify for the World Cup.

He had benefitted from Spanish great Pep Guardiola declining an offer.

Despite the latest setback, Giovanni Malago, president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), said later yesterday that the new coach would be named "soon".

Whilst Pirlo had a stellar playing career -- including being a key member of the 2006 World Cup-winning side -- his coaching CV is short on success.

A contract with a Russian betting firm had only added fuel to misgivings, with several Italian politicians saying over the weekend that his appointment would be inappropriate.

"(I) learned yesterday evening that I am no longer a candidate to be coach of the national side," Pirlo wrote in a post on Instagram, adding that he felt the need to "clarify certain points".

According to Italian media, he was due to be named this week despite his only trophy success since turning to coaching in 2020 being a single Italian Cup.