On Friday, the Italian Football Federation announced that Gennaro Gattuso has stepped down as head coach of the Italian national team, opening a new chapter in the search for leadership.
According to Italian media, the federation has shortlisted several high-profile candidates, including Massimiliano Allegri, Antonio Conte, Roberto Mancini, and Simone Inzaghi. Among them, Mancini is widely regarded as the frontrunner for a potential return.
Former FIGC president Gabriele Gravina had initially hoped Gattuso would remain until June 22. However, following Gravina’s resignation, Gattuso’s departure became inevitable.
While reports suggest Conte and Mancini are leading candidates, a fan poll by Il Corriere dello Sport indicates Allegri is actually the most popular choice (39%), followed by Conte. Nevertheless, both Allegri and Conte are currently tied to long-term contracts with AC Milan and Napoli respectively, making immediate appointments unlikely.
Mancini, currently managing Al-Sadd, appears to be the most feasible option. He could exit his club contract relatively easily and reportedly has the backing of Giovanni Malagò, who may become the next federation president.
Historically, both Conte and Mancini have led Italy before. Conte guided the team to the quarterfinals of Euro 2016, while Mancini famously won Euro 2020. However, Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup—highlighted by Jorginho missing two crucial penalties against Switzerland—remains a key backdrop to the current transition.
