Advertisement
Ventura and retiring goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon embrace. Luca Bruno

Ancelotti favourite to take over Italy as Ventura sacked after failure to qualify for World Cup

It is the first time in 60 years that the four-time champions have missed out on the tournament .

GIAN PIERO VENTURA has been sacked as Italy coach after the four-time champions failed to reach the World Cup finals.

The veteran coach’s fate was sealed after a crisis meeting of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in Rome.

The 69-year-old had refused to resign despite a 1-0 aggregate play-off defeat to Sweden on Monday saw Italy miss the World Cup for the first time in 60 years.

“As of today Gian Piero Ventura is no longer the coach of the national team,” the FIGC said in a statement.

Ventura had defended his leadership as “one of the best records in 40 years” despite failing to lead the 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 winners to their 19th World Cup.

I lost only two games in two years,” he had told Italian television show Le Iene in a brief interview.

Since the former Torino coach took over in July 2016, Italy have lost three matches — against France in Bari (3-1), Spain in Madrid (3-0) and against Sweden in the World Cup first-leg play-off in Solna (1-0) — winning nine and drawing four.

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been touted by the Italian press as the favourite to replace Ventura, as the 58-year-old Italian is free since being sacked by Bayern Munich at the end of September.

© AFP 2017

The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):

‘It would be a relief for me to play 15 or 20 minutes less in a game’

Man United may lose Fellaini on a free this summer after he turned down a new deal

Author
AFP
View 7 comments
Close
7 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel