Italy coach to be named on May 20

ITALY’S new national coach will be named on May 20, Italian football federation vice commissioner Alessandro Costacurta said on Saturday.

Former AC Milan defender Costacurta has been given the job of finding a replacement for Gian Piero Ventura, who was sacked after Italy’s shock failure to qualify for the World Cup last November.

And with under-21 boss Luigi Di Biagio in charge on an interim basis, the four-time world champion suffered defeat in its first game since, losing 0-2 to Argentina in Manchester on Friday.

“We will tell you the name of the new coach on May 20,” Costacurta told media, adding that Di Biagio remained among the potential candidates.

“If we have the opportunity to get someone better than Di Biagio, and I don’t think there are many, then we will.”

Among the names being touted are Zenit St Petersburg coach Roberto Mancini, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, former Leicester coach Claudio Ranieri, now in charge of French club Nantes, and Carlo Ancelotti, sacked by Bayern Munich last year.

“It’s not easy to find someone able to do a perfect job, and we need to see what we have to do to build a team capable of qualifying for Euro 2020,” said Costacurta. “I think it’s more important to think about the players we have, because I doubt Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola would’ve done better yesterday.”

Italy plays England at Wembley tomorrow.