Three star names have emerged as contenders to succeed Gennaro Gattuso as Italy manager.
Having failed to qualify for a third straight World Cup, the four-time winners will be determined to get their next appointment absolutely spot on.
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Italian job
Italy parted ways with Gattuso in the aftermath of March’s play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which saw them become the first former world champions to miss out on three consecutive World Cups.
Gattuso had taken the job last year after Luciano Spalletti was sacked partway through the qualification campaign.
Italy have only ever had one non-Italian manager – legendary Argentina coach Helenio Herreria – who took joint charge alongside Italian Ferruccio Valcareggi in the mid-1960s.
And it looks as though they will continue with another homegrown boss as they aim to pick up the pieces from their latest humiliation.
Paolo Maldini, Claudio Ranieri and Gianluigi Buffon have all been reported as candidates for the national team job – though Maldini is said to be set to reject the role.
So, it could be a toss-up between the experienced Ranieri and legendary former goalkeeper Buffon – who has yet to manage since hanging up his gloves three years ago.
Ranieri has held the reins at a host of clubs in Italy and beyond, as well as briefly leading the Greece national team in 2014 – lasting just four games at the helm.
The former Chelsea and Valencia boss’ crowning achievement came during the 2015/16 season as he guided Leicester City to the Premier League title in one of the great sporting underdog stories.
The 74-year-old was most recently in charge of Roma for the third time – having been born in the Italian capital.
Buffon, meanwhile – Italy’s all-time appearance maker with 179 caps – worked in a backroom capacity as the head of delegation with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) between 2023 and April this year, when he resigned.
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A key member of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning side and regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers of all time, the 48-year-old finished his playing career with Parma – where he had come through as a youngster.
Azzurri looking to get back where they belong
It’s been a rocky five years for Italy since Roberto Mancini steered them to Euro 2020 success (that tournament was played in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic).
The Azzurri crashed out of Euro 2024 at the last-16 stage and have now not been to a World Cup since 2014.
As such, some big-name players such as Gianluigi Donnarumma and Federico Chiesa – now 27 and 28 respectively – have yet to get a taste of football’s grandest stage.
Having named an extremely youthful squad for friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece last month – with Donnarumma the only senior player involved – Italy are clearly looking to the future.
They return to action in the autumn with Nations League fixtures against Belgium, Turkey and France.
