According to multiple reports in Italy, Fabio Cannavaro is the leading candidate to replace Roberto Mancini should the CT resign.
Mancini’s contract with the FIGC expires in June 2026, but Italy’s World Cup play-offs elimination may convince the coach to hand his resignation next week. The Azzurri will play the third-place play-off against Turkey on Tuesday and Mancini will likely announce his decision after the match.
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina said he wouldn’t sack Mancini, so it’s now only up to the coach to decide his future. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports 2006 Italy World Cup captain Fabio Cannavaro is the leading candidate to take over if Mancini resigns.
Cannavaro began his coaching career in China but rescinded his contract with Guangzhou FC this past September. He has now returned to Europe, where he held talks with Everton, Watford and the Polish FA over the last few months. The pink paper reports former Italy coach Marcello Lippi could join Cannavaro as the team’s technical director.
Former Sky Sport Italia correspondent Alessandro Alciato, the biographer of some of Italy’s greats such as Carlo Ancelotti and Andrea Pirlo, also suggests on Twitter that the former defender may be the new Nazionale coach.
CT Italia. Indizi su un possibile futuro pic.twitter.com/CYWf1Tc1PN
— Alessandro Alciato (@AAlciato) March 24, 2022
Che cosa fa Mancini? Se lascia c'è in pole il tandem Cannavaro-Lippi https://t.co/5AFR4icsh3
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) March 25, 2022
Why on earth is there a 3rd place play-off!?! who made that call??
I don’t think Mancini should resign; he’s still in credit after Italy’s excellent performance at the Euros. The team plays well, they just can’t score.
God no please !
Mancini should stay! What else would Cannavaro do differently? Only slight issue with Mancini is he gets players from other nations to join Italy like a club side! Start giving younger players ago maybe
A Cannavaro appointment, let’s not see another world cup until 2030 shall we? Last night was a disaster, but Mancini instilled pride last summer and inherited a rabble previously. He should stay.
Mancini’s only mistake was thinking immobile was ever going to do anything. What a waste of space on the field that guy is. Great for Lazio and trash for the azzurri. Had he have brought Balotelli along maybe he could’ve got on the end of one of those 17 crosses or 16 corners delivered in the game!!! No aerial threat whatsoever in that friggen team man. Jesus.
No Cannavaro please. Mancini stay please.
I think he would be a great Manager. I would like Mancini to stay if he drops Immobile. We smashed Lithuania with Kean and all the young guys then he changes the team and they can’t win a game.
I think a false sense of loyalty came back to bite Mancini in the a**. He stuck to the guys that won him the EURO. Stuck to Jorginho as a penalty taker after he had already missed a penalty.
Oh no…
It is time for a change. Mancio is a great guy but lacks flexibility amd the courage of a truly great coach. Why would you stick to a group of players who couldn’t even beat Bulgaria? Why stick to Jorginho who actually missed 3 penalties in a row when you count the one vs England.
Lots of technical mistakes including insisting on Insigne and other players who are not in form. Ring on Cannavaro.
If Mancini leaves – or even if he stays, the team needs an overhaul and a long term thinking approach. If he does stay he needs to be willing to adjust because his complacency cost us qualifying for the tournament he was hired for.
Ultimately, it’s all geared towards a World Cup not a Euro and therefore building a team for that should be in mind, in which case 4 years time – age counts a lot.
Chiellini, Bonucci will be too old.
Insigne, Immobile, Florenzi, Acerbi, Jorginho, Joao Pedro while all too old, shouldn’t be anywhere near the team again anyway.
Raspadori, Politano, Belotti, De Sciglio aren’t good enough at that level, Berardi never seems to do it for Italy.
Donnarumma is no Buffon, but it’s all we have at the moment.
STAR PLAYERS MOVING FORWARDS
Chiesa, Zaniolo, Verratti (33 next world cup)
KEY PLAYERS
Bastoni, Tonali, Locatelli, Pellegrini, Scammacca
OTHERS THAT COULD BE
Kean, Barella (on this list because he has a lot to prove and his performances have been substandard for Italy), Donnarumma, Spinazzola (age is the only factor at 33 next world cup will he be the same)
PROSPECTS FROM UNDER 21’s
Sebastiano Esposito, Giorgio Scalvini, Frattesi
15 players (17 if you add two more keepers) – is a decent crop to build around and sadly a long time to wait before they can play for anything meaningful again, and even longer for the biggest prize of all in 2026 – it seems like an age away.
He’s had he’s day fresh start and new players after euros should got new players in when you win major tournament new players look at history of tournament winners
Please no! If you have to replace Mancini, go for Sarri. Please people stop talking about Balo…he is and always will be a waste of space.
Mancini should play all young players against turkey the game means nothing ..( immobile , varatti, insigne ) should not even dress.. lets see what the young guys can do…
I think it is extremely offensive to get teams to play a losers playoff match.
For a team of Italy’s stature it is an absolute insult. This is a country that is absolutely nuts for football that has now failed to qualify for the 2nd time in a row.
How much hurt do you wanna inflict by getting them to play a demeaning game after suffering such a shock result.
Sorry but this is sick
What? They have to play against Turkey? Is this a sick joke? Just let them go home and rest.
Mancini should stay. They play well, and try to play football, but they just lack that talent up front.
Can’t see anyone else doing better than he’s done.
Cannavaro? Based on what?
This can’t be right.
A match between Turkey v Italy? For what?
First I’m hearing of this. FI, please recheck this.
No other source has listed such a match.
FI, reveal your source. Be better.
Does not make sense to play this game and for what?