Dubai United FC announced Pirlo's appointment as head coach on 25/7. The club has not yet disclosed contract details.

"We are proud to welcome Andrea to the United FC family," club president Ilie Cebanu said. "He embodies the values and ambitions of the club. We believe he will be a key figure in taking the club to new heights."

Last season, Dubai United FC finished 4th in the first division, failing to secure promotion to the UAE Pro League. Unsatisfied with this result, the club's management sought out Pirlo.

Pirlo managed Sampdoria in 2024. Photo: Sampdoria

Pirlo managed Sampdoria in 2024. Photo: Sampdoria

As a player, Pirlo was one of the world's top midfielders. He won two UEFA Champions League titles, two Serie A titles with AC Milan and five Serie A titles with Juventus. He was also an integral part of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad, the nation's most recent world title.

However, Pirlo's managerial career has been less illustrious. He has managed three clubs, but departed from each after less than two years.

In the 2020-2021 season, Pirlo won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana with Juventus, but finished 4th in Serie A and was eliminated in the Champions League round of 16. In the 2022-2023 season, he moved to Turkey to manage Fatih Karagumruk but was sacked three rounds before the end of the Super Lig.

In the 2023-2024 season, Pirlo led Sampdoria to a 7th-place finish in Serie B. He managed three more games the following season before being dismissed.

The UAE boasts one of the top football leagues in Asia. The national team recently reached the fourth round of World Cup qualifying in the Asian region, where they will compete with Qatar and Oman for a spot in the tournament. In 2024, UAE club Al Ain won the AFC Champions League.

Thanh Quy (according to FI)