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NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 15, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Antonio Conte has emerged as the top choice to become the new Italy national team coach, with backing from FIGC presidential candidates Giovanni Malagò and Giancarlo Abete, reports Gazzetta.
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Napoli coach Conte is the leading candidate to replace Gennaro Gattuso as Italy’s national team coach.
Why Conte is favourite to become new Italy coach
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Partenopei boss has the backing from Malagò and Abete, who are expected to be among the candidates for the FIGC Presidency.
The new president of the Italian FA will only be voted on June 22, so the next two Azzurri games, played earlier that month, will be managed by a caretaker coach.
Gazzetta wrote on its front page on Wednesday that both Abete and Malagò see Conte as the ideal option to lead the Azzurri towards qualification for Euro 2028 and beyond.
Currently, not all the candidates for the FIGC Presidency have been disclosed, and neither Malagò, 67, nor Abete, 75, have officially confirmed that they’ll run for the role.
However, according to multiple reports, both are among the leading contenders, despite rumours that Azzurri legends Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Del Piero and Demetrio Albertini mightbe involved in the race for the presidency.
Currently, Roberto Mancini and Massimiliano Allegri are the main alternatives to Conte, reports Gazzetta.
Conte’s contract at the Stadio Maradona runs out in June 2027, but Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has already claimed that he’d let the Italian tactician become the Azzurri national team coach.
- Read more – Napoli identify replacement in case Conte leaves to take over Italy national team
ByLorenzo Bettoni
Lorenzo Bettoni is the Editor of Football Italia.
