Conte challenges Mancini for Italy coaching job

Antonio Conte has emerged as the frontrunner to become Italy’s new head coach following Giovanni Malagò’s election as FIGC president, with the former Napoli and Juventus coach preferred by the majority of Serie A clubs, though Roberto Mancini, who had previously been considered the leading candidate, remains very much in contention.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Malagò has made clear that the appointment of a high-profile coach is his priority, with the new FIGC president indicating that Italy needs a name capable of capturing public imagination rather than simply a capable technical operator.

Conte fits that brief more naturally than any alternative.

The primary obstacle to Conte’s appointment is financial.

The former Chelsea and Inter manager would command a significantly higher salary than Mancini, who has indicated his willingness to accept a modest package of around €2-2.5 million net per season.

Malagò has repeatedly referenced the need to examine the FIGC’s budget before making any commitment, a comment widely interpreted as a nod to the difficulty of funding a Conte-level appointment.

However, Malagò has not closed the door. He is known to be skilled at attracting sponsorship and commercial partnerships, and has hinted that additional funding sources could be unlocked to make a premium appointment viable.

Conte is currently without a club, having resisted lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

He previously acknowledged that the Italy job would be a source of pride: “If I were the FIGC president, I would consider myself,” he said earlier this year. The situation is moving quickly, and Malagò is not a man who takes long to decide.