Carlo Ancelotti the favourite but list of Italy job candidates is full of big names

Aditya Devavrat 09:30 17/11/2017
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  • After Italy’s shocking failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, it was no surprise that Gian Piero Venturo was sacked soon after — if anything, the fact that it took two days to confirm the decision was more surprising.

    Now one of the highest-profile jobs in world football is available. But revitalising this Italian set-up is going to be a huge challenge.

    Former Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Juventus, AC Milan, Real Madrid, and PSG manager Carlo Ancelotti is the clear favourite for the job at the moment, but he’s far from being the only candidate.

    Here’s a look at five potential managers for Italy.

    CARLO ANCELOTTI

    The clear favourite, Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly already been approached by the Italian FA regarding their vacancy. Ancelotti’s managerial record, even after being unceremoniously sacked by Bayern Munich this season, means he’s regarded as both the popular choice and the best man for the job.

    Possibly the only wrinkle in this dream scenario for Italy is Chelsea. Ancelotti’s former employers are reportedly keen on bringing back the only manager to have done the Premier League and FA Cup double with the club, with stories emerging that Blues owner Roman Abramovich has personally been in touch with the Italian.

    Out of respect for his friend and compatriot Antonio Conte, the current Chelsea manager and another man linked with the Italy job, Ancelotti has not commented on the speculation regarding his former club, but he might feel he has unfinished business with Chelsea and the Premier League.

    Ancelotti has never managed an international team, however, and the fact that he’s achieved more or less everything there is to achieve at club level, coupled with the honour he’d consider it to be to manage his own national team, would probably push him towards the Italy job if it came to a straight choice. Winning again with Chelsea would be nice. Success with Italy would be the pinnacle of an already storied career.

    Ancelotti has one last mountain left to climb.

    Ancelotti has one last mountain left to climb.

    GIAN PIERO GASPERINI

    Although Ancelotti is the clear favourite, there have been plenty of calls for the federation to consider Gian Piero Gasperini.

    The 59-year-old has done an absolutely stunning job with Atalanta, leading them to fourth place in the league last year with a young side whose best players are sold the moment the club feels it’s time to cash in. Atalanta are now almost guaranteed of passage through to the Europa League knockout stages after a strong group stage campaign this season, another feather in Gasperini’s cap.

    The biggest appeal surrounding Gasperini is his success with young players. With Daniele de Rossi, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, and Gianluigi Buffon all retiring, the Italian side has lost a wealth of experience all at once. It also has a host of young, talented players, including Marco Verratti and Lorenzo Insigne, as well as several with whom Gasperini worked with in the Atalanta setup.

    For all his success with Atalanta, Gasperini has to know there’s a ceiling for the club; barring a miracle, the Serie A is likely beyond their reach, although winning a cup here and there is definitely a possibility and a Europa League triumph would be no less feted.

    But the national job is a logical step up for the Atalanta manager. The federation probably wouldn’t opt for him if it Ancelotti’s available, but they’d at least have to consider him either for now or as Ancelotti’s potential successor.

    Gasperini could be the perfect manager for a young Italy side.

    Gasperini could be the perfect manager for a young Italy side.

    ANTONIO CONTE

    Heading into Euro 2016, no one expected much from the Italian side. Yet they tamed a Belgian side packed with firepower, then got wins over Sweden and Italy to finish the group stages with a perfect record, and then — the peak of that campaign — upset Spain in the Round of 16 with a masterclass of a performance. They lost to Germany in the quarter-finals after a dramatic penalty shootout, but nobody had thought they’d come within a whisker of the semi-finals in the first place.

    That they did was all down to Antonio Conte. The Chelsea manager burnished his reputation with the way he got Italy to play and perform in Euro 2016, and memories of that tournament are still fresh on many fans’ minds. Given his tensions with the Chelsea board and mounting speculation that he could leave the London club soon, maybe even before the Premier League season ends, a return to the national team is definitely a possibility.

    Conte and Italy seem like a perfect fit – indeed, he’s proven that already. And the current circumstances are something Conte relishes. An Italy side reeling due to failure, in need of a lift quickly – this is Conte’s specialty, and he’s arguably better suited for that job than any of the other candidates, including Ancelotti.

    He took a side that had been knocked out in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016. How he’d love to do even better a second time around.

    MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI

    If and when Max Allegri chooses to leave Juventus, he’ll leave with a stellar record. Three consecutive league and cup doubles, along with two appearances in the Champions League final, means he’s already one of the most successful managers in recent Italian history, having already previously won Serie A with AC Milan. He’ll have the pick of the offers when he makes himself available.

    There’s no reason the Italian national team job won’t be one of them. Even in a field full of excellent candidates, Allegri will stand out.

    He has tactical flexibility, he can organise a side defensively and get the best out of attacking players – Gonzalo Higuain has never had it so good – and he can certainly motivate a team; Juventus have had to guard against complacency for years, and yet Allegri has managed to lift them time after time.

    Whether a rebuilding job is something he’ll be good at is less certain. However, early in his career he managed Palermo to an impressive ninth-place finish, and no one expected AC Milan to win the Serie A title in 2011, so he’s no stranger to an against-the-odds job. He has the resume, the experience, and the passion – Italy could come calling.

    Allegri's resume is as strong as anyone's.

    Allegri’s resume is as strong as anyone’s.

    ROBERTO MANCINI

    This is a star-studded list, and Roberto Mancini’s star has actually fallen recently. He’s enduring a frustrating time at Zenit St. Petersburg, after having left Inter Milan in disappointing fashion in his second spell. But what he achieved with Manchester City speaks for itself, and few would have forgotten his first spell with Inter.

    Four years ago, Mancini would have been a shoo-in for this job. The issue isn’t just that his star has fallen but that others’ have risen. Conte, Gasperini, and Allegri have seen their reputations grow, and Ancelotti would always have been the preferred choice to Mancini.

    But he comes with much the same credentials as everyone else. Success at club level, pedigree at organising a side, and skill with managing a high-octane attack. This could be the moment and the job for his redemption.

    Time for Mancini's redemption?

    Time for Mancini’s redemption?

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