Conte: I’d Pick Myself for Italy Coach
Antonio Conte has indicated his willingness to take charge of the Italian national team following Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation, with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis publicly supporting the potential transition.
Gattuso stepped down as Azzurri boss on Friday after Italy failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup for the third consecutive tournament—a historic low for the four-time world champions. His departure came within 24 hours of Gabriele Gravina’s resignation as president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), leaving the governing body in administrative flux.
Speaking to reporters after Napoli’s 1-0 victory over AC Milan on Monday, Conte acknowledged the speculation linking him to the vacant position. “It’s expected that my name appears on the list of candidates for the national team,” the 56-year-old said. “If I was the federation’s president, I would consider my name.” However, he emphasised that any move would require navigating his existing contract, which runs until 2027. “You know my contractual situation, I’ll meet with my president at the end of the season and we will see.”
Conte previously managed Italy between 2014 and 2016, guiding the side to the Euro 2016 quarterfinals where they were eliminated on penalties by Germany. His club pedigree includes league titles with Juventus, Inter Milan, and last season’s Scudetto with Napoli—though that triumph was followed by a reported fallout with De Laurentiis that nearly prompted his departure.
The Napoli president has since indicated he would not block Conte’s exit for international duty. “If Conte asked me to allow him to become the national team coach again, I would say yes,” De Laurentiis told Calcionapoli24. He added a caveat regarding timing: “But as he’s very intelligent, as long as there’s no (FIGC) president, and up to now there hasn’t been, I don’t think he sees himself in charge of something so disorganised.”
The federation’s leadership vacuum complicates any immediate appointment. The FIGC will hold an extraordinary meeting on June 22 to elect a new president, with no permanent coach expected to be named before that date. AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri has also been linked with the position, though neither candidate can negotiate formally until the administrative structure is restored.
Napoli currently sit seven points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan with seven matches remaining, making the final weeks of the domestic season critical to Conte’s immediate focus. The club’s support for his potential national team ambitions nonetheless removes a significant obstacle should the FIGC pursue his services.