Simonelli: Serie A clubs wanted Conte as Italy coach, but will ‘support’ Mancini | OneFootball

Lega Serie A President Ezio Maria Simonelli confirms clubs preferred Antonio Conte over Roberto Mancini as Italy’s head coach, but now ‘we all have to get behind him and the national team.’

Lega Serie A President Simonelli confirms that Conte was the preferred choice among clubs in Italy’s top tier for the Azzurri head coach position.

PARMA, ITALY – APRIL 12: Antonio Conte, head coach of Napoli SSC looks on during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and SSC Napoli at Stadio Ennio Tardini on April 12, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

Mancini was appointed in July after some tumultuous days that saw Paolo Maldini’s reign as technical director last just two weeks.

The ex-Milan defender had picked Andrea Pirlo as the Azzurri’s new boss, but a political scandal over Pirlo’s role as an advisor to a Russian betting company caused the deal to fall through, prompting Maldini and Leonardo to resign.

Maldini and Leonardo thought the situation regarding Pirlo was exaggerated, used as an excuse to block his appointment and limit their already granted autonomy.

Serie A clubs wanted Conte as Italy head coach: ‘True’

Lega Serie A President Simonelli not only confirmed that Mancini had always been Giovanni Malagò’s favourite candidate, but also reiterated that Conte was the clubs’ preferred option.

“He [Mancini] was Malagò’s [first] choice from the very beginning, even if not all Serie A clubs agreed,” Simonelli told Radio Anch’io lo Sport on Monday via Gazzetta.

OLDENZAAL, NETHERLANDS – JUNE 17: Head coach of Italy Roberto Mancini attends before an Italy Training Session

the UEFA Nations League 2022/23 at K.V.V Quick ’20 Stadium on June 17, 2023 in Oldenzaal, Netherlands. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

“He is a great coach with an impressive track record, and he led us to win a European Championship. We all have to get behind him and the national team.”

When asked whether Serie A wanted to hire Conte instead, Simonelli confirmed: “That’s true; we have stated it on several occasions.

“But it was a preference between two great coaches,” he added.

“Now that the choice has fallen on Mancini, we have to support him so that he can restore the national team to the heights it deserves.”

There’s still a debate ongoing on whether Serie A clubs would be eager to make room for more frequent ‘stages’ at Coverciano, allowing the Italy coach to work with his players more often.

Enzo Simonelli, Marco Materazzi and Andrea Pirlo at the Calcio Aperitivo in New York on March 3, 2025.

“If it were up to me, definitely yes,” Simonelli said.

“The last time, with Gattuso, it wasn’t done, but it wasn’t requested either, given the congested schedule and the many players who play abroad.

“This is the age-old issue of fixture congestion: with all the new competitions, there is no longer any room either to reschedule postponed matches or for the national team, even though we should do everything possible to find some.”