Pirlo mulls Italian coaching role

MILAN: Retired Italian great Andrea Pirlo revealed Tuesday he would love to be involved in the national team’s coaching staff, declaring “the blue shirt has always been a second skin”.

The 38-year-old former Juventus and AC Milan star said he would like to follow many of his contemporaries into coaching.“We talked about it recently with Carlo (Ancelotti),” he revealed after receiving the Facchetti Prize awarded annually to a football personality.

“We talked about the possibility of coaching together, but right now I’m still young and there’s time to think about it.”Pirlo, who played the final two years of his career with MLS outfit New York City, retired last November after winning the 2006 World Cup, two Champions League titles and six Serie A trophies.

But the 116-times capped midfielder has yet to decide what to do in his post-playing career, with his farewell testimonial later this month at the San Siro on May 21.“I’ll speak with (Italian FA sub-commissioner Alessandro) Costacurta because he’s a friend,” said Pirlo.

“I see him often, if there’s a way to work together then great but we’ll decide over time.“I’m still young, I have time to think about it.”.Ancelotti, Pirlo’s former coach at AC Milan, last week turned down the offer to take over as Italy coach.Roberto Mancini is now the frontrunner to take the job which has been vacant since Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup in November.