Antonio Conte continues to be linked with a possible return to the Italy nationwide group set-up following final week’s departure of Gennaro Gattuso, however what are the advantages that the present Napoli head coach would deliver to the Azzurri and why do some really feel that he’s not the precise man to deliver the Nazionale forwards?
Italy are looking out for his or her fourth head coach in three years after Gattuso left the nationwide group by mutual consent following final week’s World Cup play-off last defeat in opposition to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Conte, who has already held the Italy job between 2014 and 2016, was among the many speedy names to be linked with the vacant CT function, together with the likes of Massimiliano Allegri and Roberto Mancini.
Why would Conte make a very good appointment for Italy?
Starting with the fundamentals: Conte appears genuinely keen to return to the nationwide group set-up.
Talking after his facet’s latest 1-0 Serie A win over Milan, Conte : “If I used to be the FIGC President, I’d take myself into consideration together with others. In any case, I’ve already labored with the Nazionale and I do know the setting. I’m flattered, as a result of representing your nation is one thing fantastic.”
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It’s encouraging that there are nonetheless top-level coaches enthusiastic about taking on the Italy job throughout the nationwide group’s lowest second in latest historical past. The dearth of willingness from higher-profile coaches performed a big half within the appointment of Gattuso final summer season.
It is usually encouraging to listen to that Aurelio De Laurentiis is not going to stand in Conte’s means if he does resolve to go away Napoli to take over the nationwide group function. Conte has one 12 months remaining on his Partenopei contract, and it sounds as if ADL is not going to kick off a fuss if the coach seeks to terminate his deal 12 months forward of schedule.
“If Antonio requested me, I believe I’d say sure,” the Napoli President .
One of many apparent advantages in appointing Conte is his familiarity with the nationwide group set-up and worldwide soccer typically. And, he shouldn’t be postpone by Italy’s obvious lack of top-level people on condition that the group he coached between 2014 and 2016 was not a very memorable Italy facet both.
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means that the present crop of Italy gamers are, actually, extra gifted on a technical degree than the gamers that Conte had out there to him a decade in the past. The Pink Paper provides that it’s ‘troublesome’ to envisage a extra becoming coach for Italy than Conte for the time being.
Most significantly, Conte has a confirmed monitor file of being a short-term winner, which is one thing predecessors Gattuso and Luciano Spalletti in the end failed to realize throughout their spells within the Italy scorching seat.
The negatives behind Italy appointing Conte
VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Antonio Conte head coach of SSC Napoli throughout the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photograph by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photos)
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After hitting all-time low with the failure to qualify for the World Cup for a 3rd time in a row, the Italy nationwide group set-up is about for a number of main personnel modifications, and never simply within the head coach function. FIGC President Gabriele Gravina has additionally resigned, as has the nationwide group’s delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon.
This appears a chance for an entire re-set of the nationwide group and FIGC set-up. Nonetheless, there may be an argument that if Italy appoint Conte, and if the FIGC appoint one of many ageing presidential candidates, that this may merely be a case of ‘extra of the identical’.
The opposite apparent elephant within the room is the truth that Conte has solely as soon as lasted greater than two full seasons in a head coach function, with Juventus between 2011 and 2014. Which means he’s very a lot an possibility for the quick to medium time period, when Italy is perhaps smart to have a look at the medium to long run given the necessity for a rebuild.