Italy's World Cup Qualification Failure Sparks Managerial Search
The Italian national football team faces a period of painful reset following their heartbreaking failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The Azzurri suffered a devastating penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European qualifying playoff final, extending their unwanted streak of missing men's World Cup tournaments since 2014.
Gattuso's Position Under Serious Threat
Head coach Gennaro Gattuso, who only took over from the sacked Luciano Spalletti in June 2025 alongside technical delegate Gianluigi Buffon, finds his job under serious threat despite having inherited a team already badly trailing Norway in their qualification group. The pair were unable to turn the situation around and steer Italy to the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.
Following the Bosnia loss, Buffon confirmed that he and Gattuso would remain in charge for the short term but offered no guarantees beyond June. "This is a delicate moment, and we need to take the necessary time to make the right evaluations," Buffon stated in his post-match press conference. "Clearly, the sporting season ends in June, so until then it is only right and fair for us to be available to the Federation, the president, and all those who had faith in me."
Calls for Complete Overhaul Across Italian Football
The failure has prompted widespread calls for sweeping changes across Italian football. Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina has come under intense fire for what has been described as "the disgrace of missing out on the World Cup." The Lega party, a member of Giorgia Meloni's ruling coalition, fumed on social media that "Italian football needs a complete overhaul, starting with the resignation of Gabriele Gravina."
Italy's sport minister Andrea Abodi echoed these sentiments, stating that "it's clear that Italian football needs to be rebuilt from the ground up and that starts with changes at the top of the FIGC."
Six Potential Candidates to Replace Gattuso
With Gattuso's position looking increasingly imperiled, attention has turned to who might replace him in the role. Here are six potential contenders being discussed in Italian football circles:
Max Allegri: The Fans' Choice
According to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, AC Milan boss Max Allegri would be the dream hire for supporters. The 58-year-old has enjoyed remarkable success in Italian football, particularly during his first spell at Juventus where he became the first manager in Italian history to lead a team to four consecutive domestic doubles.
Allegri returned to AC Milan for a second spell in May 2025, meaning the FIGC would need to coax him out of that role. While historically praised for his tactical intelligence and man-management skills, he faced criticism during his second Juventus spell for an "old-fashioned" style of play thought to have stifled talented young players.
Roberto Mancini: Pushing for a Return
The 61-year-old Roberto Mancini is reportedly pushing for a return to the job that saw him lead Italy to their most recent tournament glory at Euro 2020. His first tenure with the national team, which began in 2018, delivered Italy's second European Championship and included a world-record unbeaten streak of 37 matches.
However, Mancini failed to secure qualification for the 2022 World Cup after a stunning playoff defeat to North Macedonia and resigned in August 2023. He has since had short spells with the Saudi Arabian national team and Qatari side Al-Sadd. Prior to international management, he found success at Manchester City, Lazio, and Inter Milan.
Antonio Conte: Another Veteran Option
Antonio Conte, who previously managed Italy from 2014 to 2016, is another veteran manager in the running. He succeeded Cesare Prandelli following Italy's group-stage exit at the 2014 World Cup and comfortably qualified for Euro 2016, where they reached the quarter-finals before a narrow penalty shootout defeat to Germany.
The 56-year-old has found huge success in club football either side of his Azzurri spell, winning three straight Serie A titles with Juventus, a Premier League and FA Cup with Chelsea, and Serie A crowns with Inter Milan and Napoli. Currently managing Napoli, he would need to be persuaded to return to international management a decade after his last spell.
Stefano Pioli: Available and Experienced
Stefano Pioli presents an available option, having been sacked by Fiorentina in November 2025 after a dismal second spell in charge. The 60-year-old has managed both Milan clubs, Lazio, Bologna, and Parma during his career, winning a Scudetto with AC Milan in 2022.
His experience at top clubs could benefit the FIGC, and the lack of need to buy him out of a current club contract makes him an attractive option. However, his last two roles with Fiorentina and Saudi club Al Nassr ended poorly.
Fabio Cannavaro: Legendary Figure
Fabio Cannavaro, captain of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning side and Ballon D'or winner that same year, represents a tempting legendary figure for the role. The 52-year-old is currently managing debutants Uzbekistan at the World Cup, ensuring some Italian representation at the tournament.
However, his managerial record is patchy at best. While he won the Chinese Super League with Guangzhou Evergrande in 2019 and briefly managed the China national team, jobs with Benevento, Udinese, and Dinamo Zagreb all ended quickly and unsuccessfully.
Thiago Motta: Young Prospect
Thiago Motta, with a more storied playing career than managerial one, represents a younger option at 43. He managed Juventus for nine months until March 2025, but his spell ended following calamitous results including a 4-0 loss to Atalanta and a 3-0 defeat to Fiorentina.
Currently without a job for the past year, Motta's impressive spell at Bologna from 2022 to 2024 earned him the Juventus position and marked him as Italy's brightest young managerial prospect at the time. The question remains whether he would be trusted with such a high-profile, challenging job at this stage of his career.
As Italian football grapples with this latest World Cup qualification failure, the decision about who will lead the Azzurri forward represents just one part of what promises to be a comprehensive overhaul of the national team setup and Italian football more broadly.
