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VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Antonio Conte head coach of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Antonio Conte remains one of the frontrunners for the Italy national team head coach job following the departure of Gennaro Gattuso last week, and reports in Italy suggest that Napoli could potentially turn to Thiago Motta in the event that they have to find a replacement at the end of the season.
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Conte is among the standout favourites to take over in the role of Italy national team head coach, a position he already held for two years between 2014 and 2016. Milan’s Massimiliano Allegri has been mentioned as a potential option, as has Roberto Mancini and even Pep Guardiola by some outlets.
Conte himself admitted that “If I were the FIGC President, I would take myself into consideration along with the others. After all, I have already worked with the Nazionale and I know the environment. I am flattered, because representing your country is something wonderful.”
Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has also hinted that he would not stand in Conte’s way if he decided to leave to take over the Italy squad at the end of the 2025-26 season.
“If Antonio asked me, I think I’d say yes,” ADL recently confessed.
Conte will have one year remaining on his Napoli contract at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
Who could replace Conte at Napoli if he leaves to return to Italy role?
According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Thiago Motta would be at the top of Napoli’s shortlist of replacement head coaches in the event that Conte leaves at the end of the current campaign.
Motta, who has been out of work since leaving Juventus last season, was also among the rumoured candidates to replace Luciano Spalletti when he left Napoli to take on the role of Italy CT in 2023.
La Gazzetta dello Sport also suggests that Sassuolo’s Fabio Grosso and Bologna’s Vincenzo Italiano are likely to be on Napoli’s shortlist in the event that Conte leaves.
ByPeter Young
Peter Young is a Senior Reporter with Football Italia.
