Roberto Mancini plays down Italy head coach talk
Monday 30 April 2018 17:20, UK
Roberto Mancini has said he would be proud to coach Italy but insisted he had not yet had any contact with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
Former Manchester City boss Mancini, who is currently head coach at Zenit Saint Petersburg, is among the favourites to take charge of the four-time world champions after Carlo Ancelotti reportedly turned down the job offer.
Italy have been without a permanent coach since Gian Piero Ventura was sacked after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 60 years after losing to Sweden in a two-legged play-off in November.
"Am I in pole position to become coach? From St Petersburg it's difficult to be aware of everything," Mancini told Italian radio.
"I personally have never spoken with the federation, but coaching the national team would be prestigious and a source of pride for me because Italy are one of the most important teams in the world.
"If one day I got the chance to sit on the national team's bench it would be something beautiful, but until now there hasn't been anything."
Mancini admitted it is disappointing Italy will not be at this summer's finals in Russia but remains confident they can rebuild for the future.
"It won't be the same World Cup [without Italy]," added Mancini. "I feel that at this time the national team doesn't have the champions it always had but it has good players.
"You have to be patient. The youth sections of Italian teams have some players who can do well in the national team in the future."
I personally have never spoken with the federation, but coaching the national team would be prestigious and a source of pride for me.
Italy's U21 coach Luigi Di Biagio has been covering the senior position on an interim basis, with the FIGC saying Ventura's successor will be named on May 20.
Among the other names being mentioned to take over as head coach are Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and former Leicester coach Claudio Ranieri, who is now in charge of French club Nantes.
