Italy are still looking for their next manager following reports that Pep Guardiola has turned the role down.
It is believed that Italy have already spoken to both Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti but they look to set to miss out on both of their main targets.
The Azzurri missed out on a third successive World Cup after suffering a devastating penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia & Herzegovina in their World Cup play-off tie in March.
The fallout of such a seismic failure resulted in manager Gennaro Gattuso leaving his position as manager and the Italian Football Federation must carefully consider their next steps as they look to halt an alarming rot.
We take a look at the contenders to become the next manager of Italy.
Next Italy manager contenders
Andrea Pirlo
Current Dubai United manager Andrea Pirlo is reportedly the leading contender to replace his former Milan teammate Gattuso.
Pirlo won 116 caps for Italy as a player and was part of the team that won the 2006 World Cup.
The former Juventus and Sampdoria manager remains a popular figure in Italy and he could be the beneficiary following Guardiola's decision to turn the job down.
Roberto Mancini
The leader in the Azzurri's most recent tournament success at Euro 2020, Roberto Mancini is one of the candidates to make a return to the national team, according to reports in Italy.
The former Manchester City and Inter boss was recently in charge of Qatari side Al Sadd and he may feel he has unfinished business after resigning from the Italy job in August 2023.
His first tenure was a massive success, having embarked on a world-record unbeaten streak of 37 matches, which included the triumph over England on penalties to win Italy's second European Championship in July 2021.
If anyone is capable of reviving the Azzurri's fortunes, it's Mancini.
Antonio Conte
Another experienced tactician who has held the national team job before, Antonio Conte is believed to be in the running following his departure from Napoli.
Conte succeeded Cesare Prandelli following a humiliating group-stage exit at the 2014 World Cup, but after reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, he revealed his desire to return to club management and subsequently joined Chelsea.
The 56-year-old has basked in silverware in the decade since, winning league titles with the Blues, Inter and Napoli. Is the time right for him to make a return to international football?
