The door appears open for Antonio Conte to make a sensational return to the helm of the Italian national team, with his current club president stating he would not block such a move.
The Italy coaching role became vacant following the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso, who stepped down after the Azzurri’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. This has sparked immediate speculation over his successor.
Conte, who currently manages reigning Serie A champions Napoli, has publicly put his name forward for consideration. Following a recent league victory, the coach stated that if he were in charge of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), he would certainly evaluate his own candidacy. He acknowledged his existing contract with Napoli, which runs until 2027, but confirmed plans for an end-of-season discussion with the club’s hierarchy.
In a significant development, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has now responded. He indicated that if Conte personally requested permission to take the national team job, he would grant it. However, De Laurentiis also suggested the current disarray within the federation’s leadership—following the recent resignation of its president—might give any prospective coach pause.
Conte is no stranger to the Italy job, having previously managed the national side from 2014 to 2016, leading them to the quarter-finals of the European Championship. His tenure at Napoli has been successful, delivering a league title last season, though it was reportedly marred by tensions with the president.
While Conte is a prominent name in the frame, he is not the only candidate linked to the prestigious position. AC Milan’s manager, Massimiliano Allegri, is also reportedly in contention.
The FIGC has confirmed that no appointment will be made until after an extraordinary general assembly scheduled for late June, where a new federation president will be elected. The search for Gattuso’s permanent successor will formally begin once that leadership is in place.
