Official: Baldini named new Italy Under-21 coach | OneFootball

As expected, Silvio Baldini has been appointed as the new coach of the Italy Under-21 side, assisted by World Cup winning defender Andrea Barzagli.

The 66-year-old had until last month been at the helm of Serie C side Pescara, while some of his previous clubs include Brescia, Empoli, Palermo, Parma, Lecce, Catania and Empoli.

His coaching career saw him oversee 99 Serie A games and 254 in Serie B.

“We have handed the Under-21 bench to an excellent coach, a person of value and of values,” said FIGC President Gabriele Gravina in a statement.

“Baldini has human qualities and technical knowledge to give the Azzurrini an important step up to the next level. Our principle objective is qualifying for the Olympics in Los Angeles, so I shared with Maurizio Viscidi and Gianluigi Buffon the need to bring expert guidance able to build a medium to long-term project.”

Baldini assisted by Barzagli in Italy U21 role

FLORENCE, ITALY – DECEMBER 07: Andrea Barzagli of FIGC during the international friendly match between Italy U17 and France U17 at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on December 7, 2021 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Baldini’s assistant will be former Italy and Juventus defender Barzagli, who was part of the squad that won the 2006 World Cup.

Barzagli had been part of the Italy coaching staff at various levels since 2021.

“I am happy and excited,” said Baldini on the FIGC website.

“I thank President Gravina for the opportunity ad this confidence. I am gratified that he thought of me for this role. Wearing the Azzurri shirt is a source of great pride and I will try to transmit this strong sense of identity to the lads.”

In 2022, Baldini hit the headlines when walking out of Palermo in a row with new owners City Group.

Carmine Nunziata, who had been on the Under-21 bench, now drops back to the Under-20 squad going into the next World Cup event in Chile.

Alberto Bollini is confirmed as the Under-19 coach of Italy, with Christian Maggio as his assistant, Massimiliano Favo is the Under-18 boss and Daniele Franceschini takes the Under-17 role.

Former Fiorentina full-back Manuel Pasqual is the new Under-16 coach of Italy.