Roberto Mancini remains in contention for the Italy national team job while Antonio Conte leads the race.
Roberto Mancini remains in contention for the Italy national team job, according to reports in Italy, although Antonio Conte is still viewed as the leading candidate to take over the Azzurri role.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is expected to appoint a new head coach following its presidential election scheduled for June 22, 2026, setting the stage for a major decision regarding the national team’s future.
Italian sources report that the dream appointment for Italy remains Pep Guardiola, who is expected to leave Manchester City after a decade-long spell at the Premier League club.
However, Conte is currently seen as the frontrunner, with the Napoli coach also expected to depart his club at the end of the season, making him a realistic and immediate option for the national team job.
• Antonio Conte SET to LEAVE Napoli
(Maurizio Sarri EXPECTED to replace)• Max Allegri COULD leave Milan
(Pending on terms & UCL)• Roberto Mancini waits for FIGC
• Pep Guardiola LEAVES Man City
(Enzo Maresca replaces him)• Other?
WHO should FIGC target under Malagò? pic.twitter.com/9WazGQs1dx
— AzzurriXtra🇮🇹 (@XtraAzzurri) May 19, 2026
Sources claim that Mancini would be open to a return to the Italy dugout even on reduced terms, reportedly willing to accept a salary of around €2 million per season to manage the national side again.
Other high-profile names linked to the role include Claudio Ranieri and AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri, whose future at San Siro has come under scrutiny amid reported disagreements within the club hierarchy involving Zlatan Ibrahimović and Giorgio Furlani.
📰 Corriere dello Sport: Roberto Mancini est pole position pour être l’entraineur de l’Italie! pic.twitter.com/OwUbDjKobr
— Nazionale News 🇮🇹 (@NazionaleNews) May 20, 2026
Mancini’s managerial record with Italy remains a key talking point. He famously led the Azzurri to Euro 2020 glory in 2021, but later failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup before stepping down in August 2023.
After a brief spell with Saudi Arabia, he recently returned to club success by winning the Qatari league with Al Sadd, adding another chapter to his coaching career.
