‘Why can’t Italy hire Mourinho if Brazil have Ancelotti?’ | OneFootball

Politician Ignazio La Russa has a revolutionary idea to revive the Italy squad. ‘If Brazil can hire Carlo Ancelotti, why can’t we get a foreign coach like Jose Mourinho?’

The failure to qualify for the third consecutive World Cup means that there will be a transformation of the Nazionale behind the scenes.

We have already seen FIGC President Gabriele Gravina and delegation chief Gigi Buffon hand in their resignation, with Gennaro Gattuso widely expected to follow suit.

Mourinho thrown into mix for Italy coach

GENOA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Jose Mourinho, head coach of Roma, looks on prior to kick-off in the Serie A TIM match between Genoa CFC and AS Roma at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on September 28, 2023 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Now the search is on for who will start the new era of the Italy squad, with names like Antonio Conte, Max Allegri, Roberto Mancini and Simone Inzaghi all mentioned.

“If Brazil can hire a great and foreign coach like Ancelotti, why can’t we get someone like Mourinho?” asked politician and Inter supporter Ignazio La Russa in the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Mourinho has been linked with the Portugal job over the years, but is currently the coach of Benfica, having split with Fenerbahce in August 2025.

He had two experiences in Serie A with Inter and Roma, but was sacked from the latter role in January 2024.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 17: Jose Mourinho head coach of AS Roma looks on during the Serie A TIM match between Bologna FC and AS Roma at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on December 17, 2023 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

La Russa was extremely critical of the ‘incredible’ failure to get past Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-offs, losing on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

The fact they were down to 10 men for much of it due to Alessandro Bastoni’s red card was also blamed on Gattuso.

“How can you let a youngster like Pio Esposito take the first penalty, when he doesn’t even take them for Inter? And why was Bastoni played out of position to accommodate Calafiori in centre-left of defence? This in turn penalised Dimarco on the same flank.”