Next Napoli Manager: Contenders to replace Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte has left Napoli following the conclusion of the 2025/26 Serie A season.

Ahead of the final weekend of the season, respected Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano took to X to report that the manager has "decided to leave", informing Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis of his decision to leave "one month ago".

"Conte will leave without severance pay and without any agreement elsewhere", with Gli Azzurri having already started their search for a successor at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

We take a look at the potential candidates to be the next Napoli manager.

Maurizio Sarri

Among the most compelling names to be linked with the Napoli hotseat in the midst of Conte's uncertain future is Maurizio Sarri, having enjoyed a vastly successful three-year spell with the club between 2015 and 2018.

While his stint with the Naples-based outfit wasn't rewarded with silverware, he led the side to two second-place finishes and one third-place finish, accumulating 91 points - the highest ever for a Serie A runner-up - in a 2017/18 season that seemingly captured the interest of Premier League outfit Napoli.

He implemented a a highly technical, fast-tempo style of play that was later labelled "Sarriball", revoluitionising the outlook of Napoli and arguably building the foundation for top-flight success later down the line.

Sarri is currently the manager of fellow Serie A outfit Lazio, but a dismal end to the season, losing the Coppa Italia final to Inter and the derby to Roma, has prompted suggestions that he will leave the club.

If and when he does depart, expect Napoli to be in the picture.

Massimiliano Allegri

While Massimiliano Allegri is on the verge of securing UEFA Champions League qualification with AC Milan, a reported fallout with higher-ups has placed doubt on his position.

Winning Serie A on five occasions with Juventus and once with Milan, Allegri's knowhow in Italy's top-flight is indisputable and the Napoli board will be keen to hire a successor who is capable of guiding the club to a fifth title.

A manager as reputable as Allegri is likely to draw attention from elsewhere however, frequently linked to the Italy national team job following Gennaro Gattuso's departure, and so Napoli could face competition for the 58-year-old if they identify him as the leading candidate.

Fabio Grosso

Perhaps not held in the same conversations as Sarri or Allegri, Fabio Grosso has impressed since taking charge at Sassulo and he could be considered as a potential candidate.

Grosso was hired by Sassulo following their relegation to Serie B in June of 2024, and he oversaw a league-winning 2024/25 campaign, recording 82 points and trumping Pisa to the title by six points.

His side have seamlessly adapted to the top-flight since returning too, closing in on a mid-table finish and comfortably clearing the relegation zone, and Napoli may be attentive to his situation if they fail to land the so-called 'big dogs'.

Vincenzo Italiano

Napoli president De Laurentiis is a known admirer of Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano, and so it'd be naive to rule him out of the conversation for the Napoli job.

Praised for his tactical approach, Italiano succeeded Thiago Motta in July 2024, a tough task given the Italian-Brazilian manager's succeess in the 2024/25 season, where Bologna finished fifth and qualified for the UEFA Champions League.

While Italiano's side did fall in the standings last season, finishing ninth, he did lead the club to just a third Coppa Italia success. They've narrowly climbed the table this season, confirming eighth place with a 1-0 win over Atalanta, and it'd surprise few if De Laurentiis finally made a swoop for the coach.