AL RAYYAN, QATAR – JANUARY 25: Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Saudi Arabia reacts during the AFC Asian Cup Group F match between Saudi Arabia and Thailand at Education City Stadium on January 25, 2024 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Reports in Italy claim that Roberto Mancini remains a candidate for the Italy job, although Antonio Conte is still the frontrunner.
Italy will name a new coach after the FIGC Presidential election on June 22, 2026.
From Mancini to Allegri: the candidates for Italy job
Gazzetta reports that the “dream” for the job remains Pep Guardiola, who will leave Manchester City after ten years.
However, Conte’s Napoli remains the leading candidate as the Italian tactician is also set to leave his club at the end of the season.
Both Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport include Mancini among the leading candidates for the Italy job, with Corriere suggesting that the ex-Azzurri coach would even accept a low salary, around €2m per season, to return to Coverciano.
Both Claudio Ranieri and Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri have also been linked with the Italy job. Allegri’s future at San Siro is uncertain due to disagreements with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Giorgio Furlani.
Mancini won the European Championship in 2021, but failed to qualify for the World Cup the following year.
He stepped down in August 2023 to become the Saudi Arabia national team coach, a role he held for barely a year before leaving in October 2024.
Mancini recently won the Qatari league title with Al Sadd, celebrating his latest trophy with a nod to his Euro victory with Italy.