CHELSEA BOSS ANTONIO Conte is “eager” to return to his role as Italy head coach, according to Italian Football Federation (FIGC) commissioner Roberto Fabbricini.
FIGC is yet to replace Gian Piero Ventura, who presided over Italy’s shock 1-0 aggregate defeat to Sweden in the World Cup qualifying play-off as the Azzurri failed to reach the showpiece tournament for the first time since 1958.
Italian quartet Conte, former Bayern Munich tactician Carlo Ancelotti, Zenit head coach Roberto Mancini and Nantes boss Claudio Ranieri have all been linked with the vacant post.
Conte was at the helm between 2014-16, guiding Italy to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals before joining Chelsea, where he won the Premier League title last season and the 48-year-old – who is reportedly unhappy at Stamford Bridge over transfers – wants to work with the national team again, according to Fabbricini.
“Mancini was in Rome but we didn’t contact him, Conte seems eager to wear Azzurro again, Ancelotti opens and closes the door and Ranieri isn’t out either,” Fabbricini – who was named commissioner on Thursday after an election failed to find a replacement for former president Carlo Tavecchio – told reporters.
“There’s no-one in pole position, we have to evaluate the pros and cons.
“We also have to evaluate the availability of the Federation, and explain to those who will come after us that there will be new governance.
“Now though we’ll evaluate what to do, along with [sub-commissioner Alessandro] Costacurta.”
Chelsea’s title defence is almost over after Wednesday’s surprise 3-0 loss at home to Bournemouth left the Londoners 18 points behind runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Strange one amid the impending arrivals of Mbappe & co
Mike Ashley’s final insult to Newcastle
I wonder if the Sheikh will still buy Newcastle now? Terrible foresight by Ashley
Benetiz with a bit of funding would have turned the top 6 into the top 7. Newcastle are a sleeping giant of a football club and deserve so much more from Ashley and Co. Another relegation would destroy them, they need to get it right and fast.
@Hardly Normal: huge club, massive fan base and loyal supporters, it seems the only reason that club isn’t near the top of the table is the owner. This might be the last straw for Newcastle fans as bad as it was before for Ashley I’d imagine it’ll be ten times worse now
@aidan mccormack: he doesn’t care, he’s more interested in saving doomed department stores..
NO
So again the magpie fan’s has to suffer. Benitez is going to be a big loss for Newcastle United. Sooner the new take over the better.
Just the opportunity ROY wants
Very dour manner but one of the best managers around. He deserves to be at a top club. Newcastle were very lucky to have him for 3 years…
When Ole is inevitably sacked in November he would be a brilliant replacement if still available. He would put a team structure in place as well as been extremely shrewd in the transfer market. Would love if he could come in right now tbh.
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: MU could do (and have recently done) a LOT worse! He’s an incredibly unrated manager when you look at his track record of achievements at different clubs. There’s no doubting his organisational and stabilising skills, he’s a master at it. However, I’d be surprised if he joined MU with his LFC history, but I’d equally expect he’s also above such ‘loyalties’ – he’s far too smart for that.
Rafa keeping them up year after year is akin to winning a trophy. Ashley is betting on the promoted teams being worse than they are not backing the magpies to be better
Could Newcastle’s loss be Chelsea’s gain ?
@Shane Lad: pretty sure he wont go back there given his last experience of chelsea
@Shane Lad: even though he had some success there the fickle fans didn’t like him so I’d say not
If there’s any team in the PL I feel sorry for it’s Newcastle, there was a time when they were seriously pushing top 4 but in the last 10 years it’s just been so up and down for them literally. They are a big team and they have a great fan base (apart from the horse punchers) and honesty if it wasn’t for having the worst owner in the league they could have become like what Spurs are now or at least be in the position Wolves are in where they’ve Europa League football and can take it to the big 4 when they play them. No club as big as Newcastle should be relegation prone. Rafa is one of the great unsung managers never getting the respect he deserves because of ungrateful fans like Madrid and Chelsea, any team from 5th downwards would be lucky to have him
Rumour that he’s going to Liverpool and Klopp is off to Barcelona.
@FlyingDogThing: #fakenews