Antonio Conte has stated he has not been approached regarding the vacant Italy national team manager position, despite being heavily linked with the role in recent days. The former Napoli and Chelsea manager revealed this in an interview with Dazn, adding to speculation surrounding the appointment which also includes Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo as potential candidates.
Conte’s comments come as Italian football officials search for a new manager following a period of instability and failure to qualify for consecutive World Cups – a situation Conte described as “an achievement in reverse” for a nation with Italy’s footballing history. He emphasized the importance of rebuilding a sense of national pride and connection with supporters, stating the new national team will need to find “that sense of belonging” to regain fan support.
The 54-year-old has a decorated managerial career, including a successful spell with Juventus where he won three consecutive Serie A titles, and leading Chelsea to the Premier League title in 2017. More recently, Conte managed Tottenham Hotspur before departing in March 2023. He has previously managed the Italian national team, leading them to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.
Despite not being contacted for the role himself, Conte expressed confidence in the new leadership structure being put in place, praising the appointments of Paolo Maldini and Giovanni Malagò. He described Malagò as a “figure of stature” and highlighted Maldini’s inability to stay away from football, acknowledging his strength as both a player and director. Maldini’s recent departure from his role as technical director at AC Milan has fueled speculation about his potential involvement with the national team.
According to reports from Sky Sports, Malagò has indicated a decision on the new manager and technical director is expected within the next week. While Conte remains a potential candidate, his statement suggests he has not been actively pursued at this stage. The appointment will be crucial for Italy as they attempt to rebuild and qualify for future major tournaments.
