Another Italian manager goes abroad, who’s in line for the national team?

By: Francesco | December 19th, 2009

roberto-mancini

So, news today was that EPL side Manchester City have fired Mark Hughes and have hired Roberto Mancini as manager. Mancini, who had finally rescinded his Inter contract a few months ago, was free since he was replaced by Jose Mourinho at Inter in 2008. Since then he was still receiving paychecks from Mr. Moratti, while apparently getting offers here and there but nothing really enticing. He had even been taking English lessons to prepare for an eventual adventure abroad. So, Mancini now joins the ever growing Italian-community in the United Kingdom, with Ancelotti at Chelsea, Zola at West Ham, and Capello manager of the English national team. But the interesting thing about Mancini was that he was also a candidate to take over the national team after the World Cup, but now he’s out of the running. So who could take over the national team? That becomes a big question.

It has been largely speculated that Marcello Lippi, win or lose this summer, will leave his post as national team manager and return to Juventus as a technical director. He’s had it with the managerial world and wants to sit behind a desk for a couple of years before retirement. So that leaves the big question: Who takes over the national team?

This is probably the first team that there is no clear choice to take over. In years past there was always a clear candidate, like after World Cup ‘98 when it was Zoff’s turn to take over, or after Zoff it was Trapattoni’s inevitable turn, and the same with Lippi in 2004. In 2006, that was a whole different situation and Albertini hand-picked Donadoni. But now, it’s unclear who will step up as Azzurri boss.

Early reports suggested that the following managers would be held in consideration: Carlo Ancelotti, Luciano Spalletti, Cesare Prandelli, and Roberto Mancini would be in the running for the eventual takeover. However there’s a problem, all 4 of those choices won’t be available this summer. Let’s go through the candidates:

Carlo Ancelotti
Why he won’t become manager: He’s only in his first season of a lucrative 5 year contract with Chelsea. It’s very hard to believe that he would walk out on it just to go coach the Azzurri.
How he can become manager: Ancelotti was hired by Abramovich to win the Champions League. Let’s say he gets eliminated from the Champions League his season, does he get fired? If not, what if he gets eliminated from the Champions League and doesn’t win anything else? Does he get fired? The only way Ancelotti becomes Italy manager is if he is fired.
Chances: Slim to none

Luciano Spalletti
Why he won’t become manager: Well he was a favorite, until he signed a 3-year deal with Zenit St. Petersburg last week.
How he can become manager: Let’s face it, he’s coaching in Russia. It’s cold, it’s a language that seems like Chinese compared to Italian, and it’s a league he doesn’t know all too well. Could his Russian adventure fail? I think so. Let’s say Spalletti gets homesick and leaves Zenit midway through the season, he’s back in the running.
Chances: Slim, but not as slim as Ancelotti

Cesare Prandelli
Why he won’t become manager: He is loved by the city of Florence and by Fiorentina fans everywhere, not to mention Fiorentina owner’s Diego and Andrea Delle Valle. Even though his contract is up in 2011, he said multiple times he is willing to renew it and wants to win something with Fiorentina before he leaves.
How he can become manager: First and foremost, if he wins something, like the Coppa Italia or who knows, a Cinderella Champions League story, he has the chance to leave on a high-note as a winner. Second, even though he says he wants to stay in Firenze, I think that if the national team comes calling in the summer he will be very willing to seriously consider it and start a new adventure after 5 wonderful years with La Viola.
Chances: Medium to High

Roberto Mancini
Why he won’t become manager: His appointment at Manchester City today. If he didn’t have a job, he would’ve been a big favorite.
How he can become manager: A disastrous time at Manchester City, but if that happens that might even hurt his national team chances. There are big expectations for him after he led Inter to all those Scudetti.
Chances: Almost none now that he was hired by Man City

Now of course, this is all pending on the fact that Lippi doesn’t decide to stay on as national team boss. Cassano fans everywhere just felt a shiver down their spine.