With current Italian national team coach Cesare Prandelli’s contract set to expire after next year’s World Cup, the FIGC are already drawing up a list of candidates for the potential vacancy.
Prandelli took over national team duties after the disastrous 2010 World Cup under Marcello Lippi, and has quickly righted the ship, leading the Azzurri to the Euro 2012 final only to succumb to an irresistible Spanish side.
Sky Sport claims the top six candidates would be current AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus coach Antonio Conte, Zenit St. Petersburg’s Luciano Spalletti, Monaco coach Claudio Ranieri, Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni, and Roberto Mancini.
Out of the six, Allegri and Zaccheroni are both in the final year of their respective contracts, while former Inter and Manchester City boss Mancini is currently out of work.
During his tenure as coach, Prandelli has implemented a more attractive style of play, a system of meritocracy, and a more stringent code of conduct, much to the praise of many.
He has dropped the likes of Daniele De Rossi, Pablo Osvaldo, and Mario Balotelli at various times due to receiving red cards or suspensions for on-field behaviour.
Italy face two crunch qualifiers this month, at home to both Bulgaria and the Czech Republic in Palermo and Turin respectively.
