ROBERTO MANCINI HAS opened talks over becoming Italy’s new national team coach, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has confirmed.
Mancini will lead Zenit to the end of the Russian Premier League season before starting negotiations over the role, FIGC head Roberto Fabbricini said on Tuesday.
The former Manchester City manager had been considered a frontrunner for the post, with Carlo Ancelotti among the other names reportedly in the frame.
Gian Piero Ventura was dismissed after Italy surprisingly failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the Azzurri losing a play-off against Sweden in November.
And Mancini is set to take over in time to lead Italy through their qualifying campaign for the 2020 European Championship.
“Yesterday [Monday] FIGC’s extraordinary vice-commissioner Alessandro Costacurta and Italy team manager Gabriele Oriali met Roberto Mancini, who gave his availability to terminate his contract with Zenit and to take the Italy coach role,” Fabbricini said to ANSA.
“We agree to start talking about figures and details on 13 May, with the end of Russian championship.
“I want to say that there is nothing decided. With Mancini we will clarify that the FIGC has a budget for the role which it does not intend to deviate from, and we’ll also need to talk with him about the Azzurri coaches which we would like to make sure remain with the future coach.”
Zenit sit fifth in the Russian Premier League table and are in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification with two matches remaining, while Mancini’s men lost to RB Leipzig in the last 16 of the Europa League.
Mancini led City to the Premier League title in 2011-12 and had spells in charge of Inter and Galatasaray before joining Zenit in June 2017.
“You never know in life, I think that coaching Italy one day would be an extraordinary thing,” the 53-year-old told Sky Italia in March.
- Omni
Good manager…the man who first made Man City a force to be reckoned with in the premier league. Good news for Italian football.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: I would not agree he is a good manager. He had a decent record before City. He succeeded at City, to a degree, because of money. He has done very little since and falls put with a lot of people.
@Paul P O’Sullivan: Agreed money gets you success, but there’s only so much success money can get you A poor one, like Jose Mourinhio, will waste resources. Mancini used the money and constructed a team that went toe to toe with Ferguson and won. Not many can say that.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: Zzzzzz another feckin idiot
@Paul P O’Sullivan: he won the league when money bags Ferguson was still managing
What a class manager I’ll always remember the way the won the league in the dying seconds of that season. City have easily been the best team in Manchester since then on.
@Alana: haha….do you ever stop Jamie/Alan?!
@Joe Kennedy: just reminiscing big Joey
@Alana: haha….people that don’t know your carry on might believe that alright!!
@Joe Kennedy: I’ve no idea what you mean Joey
@Alana: seek help princess
I would prefer seen Claudio Ranieri as a Italy coach … he deserve it!!
Good , Ancelotti is too good a manager to be wasted in international football yet .