Allegri and Ranieri Emerge as Italy Coach Contingency Plan
Giovanni Malagò, a candidate for the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) presidency, has reportedly drawn up a contingency plan for the Italian national football team, which would see Massimiliano Allegri appointed as head coach and Claudio Ranieri as technical director. According to reports, this would be the plan enacted if Malagò is elected to the role, forming a key part of his vision for Italian football. The proposal is designed to create a structured, long-term project for the Azzurri, extending beyond the 2026 FIFA World Cup cycle.
The plan, as reported by Italian media, would see Allegri, currently at AC Milan, take the helm of the senior national team. His primary objective, beyond the upcoming UEFA Nations League and UEFA Euro 2024, would be to secure qualification for and a strong performance at the 2026 World Cup, aiming to heal the lingering wound of Italy's failure to qualify for the 2022 tournament. Claudio Ranieri, the 72-year-old former Roma and Cagliari manager, would be appointed as technical director. His role would involve coordinating the various national youth teams and the senior side, creating a unified technical direction.
This potential move comes amid a period of uncertainty for Allegri at AC Milan. The team's recent poor form has put his future at the club in doubt, with speculation that he may not see out the final year of his contract, which runs until 2028. Sources suggest that Milan would not block a move for the 56-year-old to take the national team role. Similarly, Claudio Ranieri's position at Roma appears increasingly uncertain, with the manager himself hinting at a potential departure if his relationship with the club's ownership deteriorates.
The report indicates that financial considerations are a factor. Securing Allegri, who is one of the highest-paid managers in world football, for a national team salary would require a significant pay cut on his part. The same would be true for other high-profile candidates like Antonio Conte, who is currently at Napoli. The report suggests Allegri would be a more financially viable option for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) than Conte, whose current salary at Napoli is substantial. Other names, including Roberto Mancini and Simone Inzaghi, are also mentioned as potential candidates, each with their own contractual and financial considerations.
The proposed structure aims to bring stability and a clear technical vision to the FIGC, moving beyond the cycle of a single tournament and focusing on a project that integrates the senior team with the youth development pathway, a role for which Ranieri's experience is seen as ideal.
