Conte set for Italy return as Azzurri manager

Italy are set to appoint Antonio Conte as head coach of the national team as the Italian Football Federation moves to rebuild after another World Cup failure.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Chelsea, Juventus and Napoli manager is expected to sign a four-year contract that will keep him in charge of the Azzurri until the 2030 World Cup.

The appointment marks a return for Conte, who previously managed Italy and led the team to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.

The Italian federation is said to view the 56-year-old as the man capable of restoring stability and raising standards after a run of disappointing results on the international stage.

Italy’s decision comes after the country failed to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time, a setback that has intensified calls for a major reset within the national team.

Conte’s expected deal is understood to be part of a long-term project aimed at rebuilding the squad and restoring Italy’s place among the top football nations.

Serie A clubs are also reported to support the move, with Conte seen as a coach capable of bringing discipline, structure and high standards to the national set-up.

His previous spell in charge of Italy remains one of the most respected recent periods for the team after he guided a limited squad to the brink of the Euro 2016 semi-finals.

Conte’s path back to the national team was opened after his departure from Napoli, where he won the Serie A title and the Super Cup before agreeing to leave the club.

The focus of the new appointment is expected to be on building a competitive team for the 2030 World Cup rather than pursuing another short-term solution.

Italy are hoping Conte’s return will help bring an end to a damaging period of decline and put the national side back on track.