FIGC assistant commissioner Billy Costacurta confirms Gigi Di Biagio could be more than just the interim Italy Coach, but “Antonio Conte has pulled out.”
The Federation failed to elect a new President after Carlo Tavecchio resigned in the wake of Italy’s World Cup exit, so it was placed under the guidance of Commissioner Roberto Fabbricini.
FIGC assistant commissioner Billy Costacurta confirms Gigi Di Biagio could be more than just the interim Italy Coach, but “Antonio Conte has pulled out.”
The Federation failed to elect a new President after Carlo Tavecchio resigned in the wake of Italy’s World Cup exit, so it was placed under the guidance of Commissioner Roberto Fabbricini.
Along with his staff, the first task is to find a new Italy Coach, with current Under-21 tactician put in charge for friendlies against England and Argentina next month.
“We all have this ardour to enact a revolution and do something wonderful for Italian football, but clearly there’s a lot of work to do,” Costacurta told Sky Sport Italia.
“A new Italy Coach is fundamental, but many forget that there are several options who are under contract, so it’s difficult to really talk about it right now.
“As Conte reiterated the other day, he wants to continue working as a Coach on a day-by-day basis at club level for at least the next 18 months, the length of his Chelsea contract, so he has pulled out of the running.
“There are others who are more or less available. For example, Roberto Mancini is under contract with Zenit. We’d have to work out who can be approached and who can’t.
“If nothing happens in the meantime, the new CT will be announced in June. I don’t think there’ll be a problem having Di Biagio in charge for the two friendlies, as in fact he could provide some consistency.
“It’s not such an outlandish idea. I’ve been following Di Biagio’s progress for a few years, he took Italy to the European Under-21 Championships and made some really inspired choices.”
Could Di Biagio follow the path set by Gareth Southgate, who went from Under-21 England manager to interim senior tactician before being handed the job full-time?
“Southgate went along this path and it happens quite often. Di Biagio knows the talents who are in Italy.”