Seven men that could succeed Cesare Prandelli as Italy coach

Italy crashing out of the World Cup in Brazil has created shockwaves that can be felt in Turin, Rome, Milan and other Azzurri footballing hotbeds.

Pragmatic manager Cesare Prandelli has tendered his resignation, and found FIGC chief Giancarlo Abete doing likewise. Coral experts look at who could take the Italy job on.

Luciano Spalletti
Former Udinese and Roma boss Spalletti, 55, looks the most logical choice, following his harsh sacking from Zenit St Petersburg after over four years in Russia. He built on the good work done in Udine when he moved to the Eternal City. At Roma, Spalletti won back-to-back Coppa Italia titles and favours a 4-2-3-1, the en vogue formation of today.

Should his country come calling, he can offer them almost 20 years coaching experience. Spalletti might also bring cult heroes Antonio Di Natale and Francesco Totti, who played under him at Udinese and Roma respectively, into Italy’s backroom staff. The rising Azzurri stars could benefit from their experience.

Antonio Conte
What more can ex-Juventus captain Conte, 44, achieve in Turin? Three straight Serie A titles make him hot property, but realistically adding a Coppa Italia triumph to those apart, he cannot win anything new at the Old Lady. Spanish and German opposition in the Champions League are simply too strong for Juve.

Should his country come calling, however, then Conte could surely be tempted by a new challenge. He would bring a tactical approach of 3-5-2 with him to the Azzurri dugout, but the FIGC would owe Juventus compensation. Might there be a role for Alessandro Del Piero somewhere too?

Roberto Mancini
Ex-Manchester City manager Mancini, 49, has recently parted company with Galatasaray so, like Spalletti, is available. Cups are something of a speciality of his, as he has delivered at least one to every club he has coached.

Acrimonious exits from recent jobs and those memorable spats with Mario Balotelli stick out, though. That cold, aloof man management style of Mancini’s coaching career to date would not serve him well as an international boss, however, because so little time is spent with the players.

Vincenzo Montella
The ‘Little Aeroplane’ Montella, 40, has built on a decent club career in spells in charge of Roma (as caretaker), Catania and now Fiorentina. He steered the Florentine outfit to a top four finish and the Coppa Italia final in 2013/14.