Antonio Conte is being floated as a possible option for Milan and Roma, but they should remember his time at Tottenham and how things have changed before making a move, Apollo Heyes suggests.
The 54-year-old Italian coach is currently out of work since leaving Tottenham on March 26 of this year. He was recently linked with Napoli, but chose not to replace Rudi Garcia due to his desire to avoid joining the club in the middle of the season.
Conte’s availability means he’s now the first name to be mentioned when Serie A clubs consider coaching changes, and two top sides in particular could seriously try to tempt the former Chelsea coach next summer – Milan and Roma.
The former have kept faith in Stefano Pioli since their downward turn after winning the Scudetto in the 2021-22 season, but it’s clear that results are expected this season. Whilst last term’s Champions League run helped cover up the disappointing domestic campaign, Pioli can only live off these isolated successes for so long.
Fans have started to grow tired of Pioli and failing to win the title plus a poor European campaign could push Milan to make a change next year.
The other side who may make the lunge for Conte next summer are Roma. Jose Mourinho is expected to leave the club when his contract expires next June and many fans hope the former Italy coach’s domestic abilities would help them return to the Champions League, taking the project forward.
Considering where both Milan and Roma are in their respective projects, is Conte really the smartest appointment when looking to make the jump to the next level?
One club who’d undoubtedly say no to that question is Tottenham, who are in dreamland following the arrival of Australian tactician Ange Postecoglou in the summer. The Lilywhites currently sit top of the Premier League table after 10 games, picking up 26 points from eight wins and two draws.
12 months ago, things were very different in North London. Whilst Conte’s first term in charge was a success, guiding the team to a top four finish, things had truly broken down by his second campaign and the mood was truly dire amongst supporters, who had lost all faith in the Italian coach.
Postecoglou’s scintillating work with Spurs this season has further highlighted just how miserable things were under Conte and surely damns his legacy moving forward. His repeated failures in Europe should also prove problematic to Milan and Roma.
In a recent interview, the 54-year-old coach underlined his desire to “make history, also at a European level” at his next club, but history shows that he’s always been more of a domestic danger than a Champions League contender.
Milan and Roma are both at similar points in their projects, needing stability at a management level and consistency at a footballing level, and Conte’s clashes with his old bosses and tough style with players may cause a repeat of his Tottenham spell.