New Napoli coach Antonio Conte looks back over his career with Italy and reveals he would ‘never’ have left the Nazionale in 2016 if he hadn’t already signed a contract with Chelsea.
The tactician was formally appointed to the Napoli job yesterday after months of negotiations, practically since he walked away from Tottenham Hotspur in March 2023.
Meanwhile, he also sat down with the official FIGC digital channel, VivoAzzurroTV, to discuss his experiences with the Azzurri.
“I grew up in the streets and that teaches you immediately that there are difficulties in life and nobody else will help you to resolve them,” said Conte.
“You have to figure out how to look after yourself and that you cannot count on anyone or anything.”
The former midfielder got his first call-up to the Italy squad from Arrigo Sacchi in 1994 and was part of the World Cup squad.
“I loved Sacchi’s passion for football, he was a hard worker and left nothing to chance. I tried to adopt all those characteristics into my own career. He was obsessed, but for me obsession in football is a positive thing.”
That Italy team reached the 1994 World Cup Final in Pasadena, holding Brazil to a draw and losing eventually in a penalty shoot-out.
“When you are in these opportunities, you have to think that it might be your only chance. I was young, so I thought another would come along…
“When you reach a final at club or international level, you must realise it can be your only chance in life and you must be determined, because let’s be clear, only those who win remain in history. That defeat was the kind that burns your skin.”
Italy return for Conte as coach
Conte returned to the Italy squad as a coach in 2014 after leaving Juventus, having won back-to-back Serie A titles.
He took the Nazionale to the EURO 2016 quarter-finals, losing to Germany on penalties following a 1-1 draw, followed by his resignation.
“It was difficult for me to leave those players and we had created a real family atmosphere. This helped us to overcome the limitations of what was after all not a particularly strong group of players, but one who wanted to prove we were not inferior.
“Before the Euros began, in April, I told the President that I wanted to return to coaching at club level and had already signed for Chelsea in April.
“I am convinced that if I hadn’t signed that contract already and had to instead decide at that moment during the Euros, I would never have left that group. It was too strong a bond.”
Nonetheless, Conte has no regrets over his career path.
“We all have a journey in life. I left Juventus, went into the Nazionale that gave me strong emotions, then in England to win the Premier League and FA Cup.
“In every situation there might be regrets, but what followed was exciting and wonderful too.”
Italy would have perhaps qualified for the 2018 World Cup had he remained the CT…
Hopefully he can be a success at Napoli. The club needs to get back on track quickly.
Don’t worry, Napoli has become a merry go-round for coaches, especially having to work under ADL. You combine that with perhaps the most impatient coach in the history of world football and he will be gone after 1 or 2 seasons, like all the other clubs in his career.