Antonio Conte appointed Italy coach on four-year deal

Antonio Conte has been named the new head coach of the Italy national team, with La dello Sport reporting the appointment today. He will sign a four-year contract aimed at guiding Italy to qualification for the 2030 World Cup. Conte is currently unattached after departing Napoli at the end of last season. He oversaw 91 matches in charge of Napoli. During his two-year spell at Napoli he secured the championship and the Italian Supercup. Those trophies marked his most recent club successes.

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Italy has failed to qualify for a World Cup since 2014, despite winning Euro 2021. The federation therefore views Conte’s appointment as a strategic move. La wrote, “Jezelf binden aan een coach die weet hoe je moet winnen of resultaten moet behalen, is logisch als deze relatie standhoudt tot de deadline van 2030, wanneer we het WK tegen Spanje, Portugal en Marokko moeten trotseren.” The newspaper argued that linking the team to a coach with a proven winning record is sensible. The outlet added, “Met het oog op een langetermijndoelstelling die gekoppeld is aan kwalificatie voor het WK,” describing the four-year horizon. It emphasised that Conte will have the full period to reshape the squad toward the 2030 target. Conte first took the Italy job in 2014 after successful years at Juventus, guiding the Azzurri to the Euro quarter-finals before a loss to Germany. He later managed Chelsea, Internazionale and Tottenham Hotspur, and his appointment was discussed on Studio Oranje where Hedwiges Maduro previewed the Netherlands‑Tunisia match.