Baldini praises Conte as Italy head coach role remains vacant: ‘Almost always wins’ | OneFootball

Interim Italy head coach Silvio Baldini appears to have given his endorsement to Antonio Conte, who remains linked with a move to return to the national team set-up following the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso earlier this year: ‘Whenever he didn’t win, he always came second’.

Baldini praises Conte, who remains linked with vacant Italy role

Baldini is serving as Italy’s interim head coach following the resignation of Gattuso immediately after the World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of March. A permanent CT will not be appointed before the FIGC Presidential elections take place on June 22.

Several names have been linked with the vacant Italy national team head coach role: Massimiliano Allegri was among the first, but he is now set to take over from Conte as head coach of Napoli. Pep Guardiola has also been touted as a long-shot ‘dream’ option for the Azzurri.

As things stand, reports indicate that Conte and Roberto Mancini, two former CTs, are the leading candidates to replace Gattuso.

Baldini, speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of Italy’s friendly against Greece, praised Conte and his ‘methodology’ in what appeared to be a public endorsement of the former Juventus, Inter and Napoli tactician.

“Talking about coaches, one who almost always wins, always finishes in first or second is Conte,” said Baldini during his pre-match press conference on Saturday.

EMPOLI – MARCH 26: Silvio Baldini manager of Italy U21 looks on during the UEFA Under 21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 and North Macedonia U21 at Stadio Carlo Castellani on March 26, 2026 in Empoli (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images).

“But why does Conte always win? He has his own style, he can be nice, he can be unpleasant, he creates a strong group, but I’m just talking about results. He went to England and won, he won with three squads in Italy: Juve, Inter, Napoli. Whenever he didn’t win, he came second.

“But why is Conte successful? Because he has a methodology. If youth teams don’t understand that having a methodology isn’t just about teaching technique or how to cross the ball, then we’re going nowhere, it’s more like a lifestyle.”