Former Birmingham City, Leeds United & Sheffield Wednesday boss linked with sensational return to management

A former Birmingham City manager could be set for a sensational return to management - where he could replacement Italian football legend Andrea Pirlo.

According to the Italian press, Pirlo is under pressure at Sampdoria, and former Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani is now considering making a change. Sampdoria’s next game is against Ascoli, and the outcome of that match could have a baring as to whether the 2006 World Cup winner stays in the role.

Radrizzani bought Sampdoria after selling a £170m deal to sell Leeds, and had hoped to guide the Italian club back to Serie A with the appointment of 116-time Italy international Pirlo.

The 44-year-old had played for Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus, and is considered one of the greatest names in the history of football.

It hasn’t gone to plan for Pirlo however, with just one win in eight games, coupled with two draws and five defeats. In their last match they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to US Catanzaro.

In reaction to the bad run of form, Sampdoria website SampNews24, has reported that Radrizzani is drawing up a shortlist, and one surprise name is said to be on there - Garry Monk.

Monk has no coaching or management experience in Italy, and only played in England during his 19-year playing career in which he mainly turned out for Swansea City, who he later went on to manage.

Monk and Radrizzani spent time together at Elland Road when the latter bought a 50% share of the club from Massimo Cellini in January 2017. He bought the club five months later, and then following the full takeover, Monk opted to leave the Yorkshire club.

The 44-year-old hasn’t managed in nearly three years or 1,058 days to be exact since being sacked by Sheffield Wednesday in November 2020. At the time of his departure from Hillsborough, they had been second from bottom, and eventually the Owls were relegated from the Championship.

His time at St Andrew's last just over a season after being appointed as Steve Cotterill's replacement in March 2018. He led Blues to safety, and had to deal with an EFL-imposed transfer embargo which limited him to mainly signing players on free transfers or loans, however his time at the club had come to an end in June 2019.

He was said to unhappy with the sale of Jota to local rivals Aston Villa and eventually then-chief executive Xuandong Ren sacked him after refusing to resign from his post.