National team, hunt for a new coach: a big name comes out of the list of papabili
The race for the new technical commissioner of the Italian national team, fresh from the bitter outcome of the playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, is likely to lose one of the heaviest names: Carlo Ancelotti. Hailed as one of the ideal profiles to lead the Azzurri’s re-foundation after the disaster of the last three four-year terms, the coach from Reggiolo would in fact have reached an agreement in principle to continue his work with Brazil, regardless of the Seleçao’s results at the next World Cup.
According to ESPN Brasil, in particular, Ancelotti has already given his green light to deal with the CBF (the Brazilian Football Federation), with the aim of finding an agreement until 2030, and the signing is considered a mere formality. The Brazilian federation sent the draft of the new contract earlier this week, also accelerating in light of the Azzurri sirens, and the economic agreement has already been defined: salary of around 10 million euros annually, the highest ever awarded to a Brazil coach, and raises for his entire technical staff.
With Ancelotti out of the picture, the FIGC must now narrow down the list of candidates, which will be evaluated in its entirety by the next Federcalcio summits, which will take over the reins left by Gabriele Gravina starting at the end of June. Antonio Conte has made no secret of his own interest in returning to the Azzurri bench, although he has hinted that he is seeking certain conditions, including and especially at the organizational level. Massimiliano Allegri also remains in contention, although the AC Milan coach has preferred to dodge the subject.
Interest in Pep Guardiola, considered by many insiders to be at the end of the cycle with Manchester City but still bound by a contract with the Mancunian club expiring June 30, 2027, seems only a suggestion, just as the “promotion” from the Under 21 team of Silvio Baldini seems unlikely, also in light of the objectives set with the current cycle of players involved in qualifying for Europe’s top youth tournament.
