Fabio Capello has urged the Italian Football Federation to appoint Antonio Conte as the new national team head coach, arguing that the Azzurri require “shock therapy” that only the former Juventus and Chelsea boss can deliver.
The intervention comes as Giovanni Malago, newly elected President of the FIGC, makes the appointment his immediate priority. While Roberto Mancini remains in contention for a return to the role he vacated in 2023, Capello believes Conte represents the decisive choice to reinvigorate Italian football.
Capello Backs Conte for ‘Shock Therapy’
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Capello dismissed any doubt about his preference between the two frontrunners. “We’re talking about a battle between two great coaches, both winners,” he said. “But… Antonio.”
Capello emphasised Conte’s capacity to deliver instant results and galvanise squads without lengthy bedding-in periods. “Conte is a coach who brings immediate impact, on the players, on the results. He rarely makes mistakes when he’s called upon to start a new adventure,” he explained.
The former England manager pointed to Conte’s previous tenure, which culminated in a EURO 2016 quarter-final appearance, as evidence of his aptitude for international management. He specifically recalled the tactical ingenuity displayed during the penalty shootout defeat to Germany, when Conte deployed an improvised midfield trio of Marco Parolo, Stefano Sturaro and Emanuele Giaccherini amid player unavailabilities.
Capello also noted Conte’s stated desire to return to the national team setup and “complete a job he began a few years ago.” He suggested that Conte understands the unique demands of international football, where daily contact with players is impossible, yet still knows “how to bring the best out of his boys every time they meet up.”
Mancini’s Saudi Departure Damages Credentials
Despite acknowledging Mancini’s success in securing the EURO 2020 title at Wembley, Capello argued that the manager’s abrupt departure to Saudi Arabia in August 2023 continues to undermine his candidacy. Mancini left the Italy post to take over the Saudi national team with little warning.
“A week before mid-August, he was having dinner with the FIGC President Gravina. And, a week later, he tells him that he’s taken the Saudi Arabia option,” Capello recounted. “It was done three summers ago. The facts are too recent to be forgotten about or pushed to one side.”
Capello refused to characterise the move as a “betrayal,” but described it as “an interesting choice, but a sudden choice that nobody would have expected.”
The Baldini Alternative
Beyond the two principal candidates, Capello also endorsed Silvio Baldini, who recently managed the senior side on an interim basis during June’s international friendlies while continuing his role with the Italy U21s.
“I like him, and not just a small amount,” Capello stated. “The work he has done with the Italy U21s is great, the messages he launched during his 10 days in charge of the senior team have made an impact as well.”
Capello cautioned that whichever manager assumes control must integrate Italy’s emerging talent with experienced heads, noting that while the recent friendlies revealed “promising youngsters… they need to create a good mix where the presence of the senior players is fundamental.”
With Malago now installed at the FIGC, the federation must weigh Capello’s advocacy for Conte’s immediate impact against the lingering complications of Mancini’s recent departure.