Fabio Capello believes Antonio Conte is well-prepared to return to manage the Italy national team, while also suggesting that Massimiliano Allegri could adapt to international management if appointed.
Conte and Allegri are considered the top contenders to lead the Italian national team after Gennaro Gattuso’s recent resignation. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is still without a president, with elections scheduled for June 22, meaning a decision on the next national team coach is unlikely before a new head of the football association is in place.
Despite the ongoing uncertainty within the FIGC leadership, Capello shared his insights on both leading candidates for the Italy head coach role in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Capello on the Next Italy Coach: ‘Conte Knows What Awaits Him, Allegri is Intelligent’
A significant advantage for Antonio Conte is his prior experience as the Italy head coach from 2014 to 2016.
“That would be a plus for him,” Capello stated. “If he returns to the Azzurri dugout, he would already be aware of what awaits him, even though the circumstances have changed compared to a decade ago.
“It’s almost impossible for things to get worse; we’ve hit rock bottom.”
For Massimiliano Allegri, however, this would be his first venture into international football.
“You don’t have the daily interaction with the players,” Capello cautioned. “And that’s not a minor detail; you have less influence over what happens during the season. From injuries to player form, you experience everything remotely until the players are in training camp at Coverciano.”
Capello doesn’t foresee this as a major obstacle if Allegri were to take the Italy job.
“I don’t think so; it would just be different. As I mentioned, Max is intelligent and would quickly grasp how to proceed. It would still be a new experience for him initially, whereas for Antonio, it would not be.
“Allegri, on the other hand, possesses an edge in communication. Conte has been less diplomatic on some occasions in the past.”
Capello feels that Conte performed adequately with the Italy national team during his previous tenure, but believes the quality of players available then was slightly superior to the current generation of Azzurri players.
“He certainly had a European Championship that met expectations, but he also had different players available,” Capello remarked, referring to the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, and Andrea Barzagli.
“And there’s no longer a cohesive unit of players from a single club within the national team. We have some from Inter, but it’s not as substantial as it has been in the past.”
Capello has previously highlighted the importance of having a core group of players from the same club in the Italy squad.
“Look, the first piece of advice I would give to any coach: You need to establish a foundation of players immediately, ideally by focusing on a ‘block’ of players from a domestic club.”
However, Capello acknowledges that this is challenging given the limited opportunities for Italian players in Serie A currently.
“I’m well aware of it; our current difficulties stem from this. The standard of Italian players has declined, and even the clubs are struggling. So for a scout, this is a very complex task.”
Capello himself was once offered the Italy national team position but declined. “I received the offer for the Azzurri, but at that moment, I didn’t feel ready, so I refused.
“Managing a national team is about a feeling and a responsibility, and if at that precise moment I didn’t feel I could commit, it would have been wrong to accept.
“The Italy job is not something to be taken or rejected for convenience. It’s a role you have to feel deeply, because when the anthem plays, you are representing your country, and you’re not ‘just’ serving a club as in other positions. So, I cannot offer any specific advice either way; it’s all strictly personal.”
English Translation and Paraphrasing:
Fabio Capello offers his perspective on the leading candidates for the Italy national team manager role, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri.
Capello views Antonio Conte as a strong contender, noting his prior experience managing the Italian squad between 2014 and 2016. He believes Conte is familiar with the demands of the job, despite acknowledging that the football landscape has evolved. Capello also makes a candid remark about the current state of Italian football, suggesting it has reached a low point.
Regarding Massimiliano Allegri, Capello highlights that it would be a new challenge for him to transition to international management. He points out the loss of daily contact with players, which reduces a coach’s immediate influence on their form and fitness leading up to national team call-ups. However, Capello is confident that Allegri’s intelligence would enable him to adapt quickly to the international arena.
Capello also draws a distinction between the two managers’ communication styles, suggesting Allegri might be more diplomatic than Conte has been at times.
Reflecting on Conte’s previous tenure, Capello believes he achieved good results but had access to a stronger pool of players, particularly mentioning the defensive backbone of that era. He laments the lack of a strong club contingent within the current national team.
Capello emphasizes the importance of building a core group of players from a single club for national team success, a strategy he advises any incoming coach to consider.
He attributes the current challenges in Italian football partly to the declining opportunities for homegrown players in Serie A, which impacts the availability of talent for the national team.
Capello also shares his personal experience of being offered the Italy job, which he declined, explaining that such a role requires a deep personal commitment and a strong sense of responsibility, not just a matter of convenience.
