Italian Football Federation president confirms Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is a candidate to return as Azzurri manager

ITALIAN Football Federation president Carlo Tavecchio has confirmed Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is a candidate to return as Azzurri boss.

Italy are currently without a manager after Gian Piero Ventura was sacked this week, following Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

AFP

In losing their qualifying play-off with Sweden, Italy failed to reach their first World Cup in 60 years, last missing out on the 1958 tournament… in Sweden.

Now the Azzurri are hunting high and low to find the right man for the job as they look to get back on track ahead of the 2020 European Championships.

Amongst the names in the frame, according to Tavecchio, are Massimiliano Allegri, Roberto Mancini, Carlo Ancelotti and Claudio Ranieri.

However, Chelsea boss Conte – fresh from winning the Premier League in his first season at the Blues – remains the No1 target for Italy.

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Tavecchio revealed: “Allegri and Mancini? You’re getting warmer. Conte? Fire.

“We’re looking for the best. They already have commitments until June from a contractual point of view.

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“Then when we get to June, who will be free?

“The ones are Ancelotti, Conte, Allegri, Ranieri and Mancini. This is the truth of those available.”

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Conte managed Italy between 2014 and 2016, following three seasons at Juventus, but left his job at the Azzurri to join Chelsea.

Under Conte’s leadership, Italy crashed out in the quarter-finals of last summer’s European Championship in France, losing on penalties to Germany.

The Chelsea boss only signed a new two-year contract to stay at Stamford Bridge this summer, but speculation surrounding his future has been rife.

Amongst other issues, Conte is reportedly frustrated for what he perceived to be inactivity in the summer transfer window, and has been targeted by a host of clubs in Italy.