Fabio Cannavaro hints at a return to Serie A: a surprising new possibility
Fabio Cannavaro’s future may once again be tied to Italian soccer. In fact, rumors are growing increasingly persistent that the 2006 World Cup champion is considering the possibility of ending his tenure as head coach of the Uzbekistan national team early—a decision that could open up some interesting possibilities.
The basis for this consideration appears to be the change in the Asian Cup schedule, which, starting in January 2027, will be postponed by eleven months due to geopolitical instability in the Middle East (the tournament is to be held in Saudi Arabia): the need to continue for an additional year with the Uzbek national team would have significantly altered the schedule initially agreed upon with the local federation.
Behind this assessment, however, there may also be another motivation. The Neapolitan coach has never hidden his desire to return to coaching in Italy’s top league and does not want to be caught off guard should interesting opportunities arise in Serie A in the coming weeks.
In fact, several coaching positions remain under consideration. The results of the upcoming matchdays could prove decisive for coaches already at the center of speculation, such as Alberto Aquilani at Sassuolo and Maurizio Sarri at Atalanta—not to mention that other situations could suddenly become precarious as the season progresses.
For Cannavaro, a return to Serie A would represent a sort of unfinished business. The former defender had already gotten a first taste of the top flight in the final stretch of the 2023–2024 season, when he was called upon by Udinese to replace Gabriele Cioffi during a particularly difficult period. In just six games, he managed to guide the Friuli-based team to safety—a feat that seemed far from certain—leaving a positive impression despite his brief stint on the Bianconeri bench.
At the moment, however, no final decision has been made, and his stint with Uzbekistan could very well continue as planned. Cannavaro, however, is ready to carefully evaluate all available options, and the idea of a return to Serie A is by no means out of the question.
