Gianluca Di Marzio, a transfer market expert, spoke on his podcast for Sky Sport Italia about the future of the Italian national team:
"Who wants to be the head coach, who wants to take on the role of technical director: this isn’t the new game of Italian football, but it is certainly one of the most important decisions that will have to be made for our sport.
The names circulating right now are Roberto Mancini, who had already expressed willingness to return when the split with Spalletti occurred, the last coach to have won a major trophy with our national team; and Massimiliano Allegri, who would represent the perfect fit for the role of head coach, because he brings reliability, experience, wit, and brilliance: he is a superb manager and probably the ideal choice right now for our national team to have someone like him on the bench. That said, he has a contract with Milan, just as Antonio Conte has one with Napoli, so it will obviously not be easy to secure them from De Laurentiis, much like what happened during Spalletti’s time with him: you will remember how that situation ended, with lingering legal consequences.
Personally, I would also like Vincenzo Montella, who, I must say, in his current role as Turkey’s head coach, under a lot of pressure in a difficult and delicate environment, has managed to do an extraordinary job. But, regardless of who becomes the head coach, in my opinion the most important choice will be who is entrusted with the task of rebuilding our football: the new president of the Federation, whether it is Malagò or someone else, of course. Yes, but we need the presence of a former player. I think we need to start trying to change the structure a little: from Federation president to Federation project. A project that involves those who, on the field, have given so much and have shown they know what football is and how to try to change it.
So, whether it is Billy Costacurta, whom I know very well and who already made an important contribution when he was called during the period of special administration, with the choice of Mancini and the secondary teams, or whether it is Beppe Bergomi, or even the Maldinis, Baggio, Del Piero: in short, figures who would be indisputable and would represent a real asset for our football. A truly important presence that can show that Italy’s cycle is a new cycle and can be a winning one.
We therefore need a figure of this kind, who can bring ideas and then, alongside this football expert, someone who can actually implement these ideas, someone who can carry out certain reforms for our football and put them into practice.
So it is fine to ask who wants to be the head coach, but what is now especially needed is someone who can choose this coach and create the conditions for our football to be able to – and need to – change. We need a figure from the field, someone who can really show that our football is taking a new path."
