Antonio Conte Archives - The Cult of Calcio

The new leaders of the FIGC, the Italian Football Association, have made it abundantly clear that Pep Guardiola is their no.1 target.

Guardiola Turns Down Offer to Coach Italy

July 24, 2026 Enrico Passarella FIGC, Italian Football, Italy, Serie A, The Azzurri Leave a comment

The new leaders of the FIGC, the Italian Football Association, have made it abundantly clear that Pep Guardiola is their no.1 target for the Azzurri bench. They met with Serie A on Thursday, but the announcement will have to wait.

After mulling it over for a while, Paolo Maldini has accepted the FIGC’s offer to be Italy’s new technical director.

Maldini Takes Italy Job, Reaches Out to Guardiola

July 13, 2026 Enrico Passarella FIGC, Italian Football, Italy, Serie A, The Azzurri

After mulling it over for a while, Paolo Maldini has accepted the FIGC’s offer to be Italy’s new technical director. One of his first moves was an informal meeting with Pep Guardiola to gauge his availability. In a surprise move, the exec is being joined by Leonardo.

Giovanni Malagò won the FIGC election in a landslide as expected, and he's in talks with Paolo Maldini and Antonio Conte to guide Italy.

New FIGC President Negotiating with Maldini and Conte

June 25, 2026 Enrico Passarella FIGC, Italian Football, Italy, The Azzurri

As expected, Giovanni Malagò won the FIGC election in a landslide, garnering nearly 70 percent of the votes, and his next mission will be to appoint a new director and a new Italy coach, in that order, with Paolo Maldini and Antonio Conte as the current favorites.

With Massimiliano Allegri headed to Napoli, Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini are the two frontrunners to guide Italy.

Four Decorated Coaches in Contention for Italy Job

June 1, 2026 Enrico Passarella FIGC, Italy, The Azzurri

With the Serie A coaching carousel getting completed and Massimiliano Allegri headed to Napoli, Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini are the two frontrunners to guide Italy. Pep Guardiola lingers as a pipe dream, and Claudio Ranieri is a distant fallback.

Kevin De Bruyne didn’t mince words toward Antonio Conte and raised doubts about staying at Napoli next season in an interview.

De Bruyne Casts Doubt About His Permanence at Napoli

June 1, 2026 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Italian Football, Napoli, Serie A, Serie A 2025-2026, Serie A 2026-2027, Transfer Market

Kevin De Bruyne didn’t mince words toward Antonio Conte and raised doubts about staying at Napoli next season in an interview: "It was obviously difficult for me because the coach had a very different football vision from mine."

Romelu Lukaku broke his silence on his disappointing season and made a surprising remark about his future, as he wishes to stay at Napoli.

Lukaku Does a 180, Voices Hope to Prolong Napoli Stay

May 27, 2026 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Italian Football, Napoli, Serie A, Serie A 2025-2026, Serie A 2026-2027, Transfer Market

Romelu Lukaku broke his silence on his disappointing season and made a surprising remark about his future, as he wishes to stay at Napoli, despite the recent rift: "“I have one more year on my contract, and I’m very happy where I am. I apologized to Antonio Conte."

Antonio Conte officially announced his Napoli exit, but Maurizio Sarri is expected to go to Atalanta instead despite their chase.

Napoli Survey Options as Atalanta Close In on Sarri

May 25, 2026 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Atalanta, Bologna, Bournemouth, Italian Football, Napoli, Premier League, Serie A, Serie A 2025-2026, Serie A 2026-2027

Antonio Conte officially announced his Napoli exit on Sunday, and the team had long been privy to it, but the Azzurri are set to miss on their primary target, as Maurizio Sarri is expected to go to Atalanta instead. De Laurentiis is waiting in the wings for Massimiliano Allegri.

Several Serie A teams will soon be looking for a new coach as very few gaffers are already sure to be confirmed.

Serie A Poised for a Very Intense Coaching Carousel

May 21, 2026 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Atalanta, Bologna, Fiorentina, Italian Football, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Sassuolo, Serie A, Serie A 2025-2026, Serie A 2026-2027, Udinese

Several Serie A teams will soon be looking for a new coach as very few gaffers are already sure to be confirmed. Christian Chivu will soon re-up his contract with Inter, Gian Piero Gasperini will have even more power at Roma, and Cesc Fabregas will continue to be Como’s mastermind.

Antonio Conte and Napoli seem destined to part ways, although the game isn’t totally over yet amid a likely last-ditch effort.

Reasons Behind Likely Coaching Change at Napoli

May 19, 2026 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Italian Football, Napoli, Serie A, Serie A 2025-2026, Serie A 2026-2027, Transfer Market

Antonio Conte and Napoli seem destined to part ways, although the game isn’t totally over, and president Aurelio De Laurentiis could make a last-ditch effort to convince the boss to stay. However, he’s less adamant about it and more open to letting him out of his contract.

Antonio Conte stopped short of announcing his departure from Napoli but openly alluded to it after the Azzurri clinched a UCL berth.

Conte Heavily Hints at the Conclusion of His Napoli Era

May 18, 2026 Enrico Passarella Bologna, Calciomercato, Italian Football, Lazio, Napoli, Serie A, Serie A 2025-2026, Serie A 2026-2027, Transfer Market

Antonio Conte stopped short of announcing his departure from Napoli but openly alluded to it in his press conference after the Azzurri clinched a UCL berth: "I’ve come here in a dark time for the team promised to leave a lasting base to compete even without me."

Antonio Conte is one of the leading candidates to replace Gennaro Gattuso on the Italy bench, and Napoli don’t want to be unprepared.

Serie A Preview: Pisa vs Napoli – Team News, Lineups & Prediction

May 16, 2026 Marko Vrakela Italian Football, Napoli, Pisa, Serie A, Serie A 2025-2026

Serie A runners-up Napoli travel to the Arena Garibaldi to take on already-relegated Pisa in their final away match of the season. Boasting a three-point lead over fifth-placed Roma, last season’s champions can secure Champions League qualification with a game to spare.

Serie A Preview: Napoli vs Bologna – Team News, Lineups & Prediction

May 11, 2026 Marko Vrakela Bologna, Italian Football, Napoli, Serie A, Serie A 2025-2026

With the Scudetto dream gone, Napoli will face out-of-sorts Bologna at the Diego Maradona Stadium, eager to lock down a runner-up spot in Serie A. Antonio Conte’s men are on the verge of securing a coveted Champions League qualification, but they cannot take anything for granted just yet.

Tag: Antonio Conte