Italy chiefs not giving up on landing Antonio Conte as next manager

Italian Football Federation vice-commissioner Alessandro Costacurta has revealed that Chelsea boss Antonio Conte remains the top choice to take over as Italy's next manager.

The 48-year-old recently emerged as one of the frontrunners to succeed Gian Piero Ventura, only to seemingly pull out of the running as he instead wants to focus on day-to-day work at club level.

With Conte's job at Stamford Bridge under considerable threat, however, having won only five of 14 matches in 2018, Costacurta - one of those tasked with making an appointment - is not giving up hope of luring him back for a second spell in charge.

"I haven't chosen yet but I think Conte is the one who could do the best. I'll definitely talk with him in a couple of months," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "He's already shown he knows how to be national team coach while the others haven't yet.

"That doesn't mean I wouldn't be happy with [Roberto] Mancini or with [Carlo] Ancelotti, although Ancelotti seems to have removed himself from consideration."

Conte guided Italy to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 before stepping down to take over at Chelsea, winning the Premier League title in his first campaign in West London.