Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC)
President Carlo Tavecchio appealed to respected Italy coach
Antonio Conte Friday to continue managing the national team
after his contract expires next year despite persistent reports
he is being made lucrative offers by top clubs.
"I hope that Conti will stay on beyond 2016," Tavecchio
said.
Tavecchio acknowledged that Conte, 46, formerly coach of
Juventus of Turin and a former Juventus and national Italy team
player, is free to decide his own future.
"We are in a free country and everyone makes his own
choices".
Conte reportedly is being wooed by top clubs AC Milan and
AS Roma.
Tavecchio made his remarks on the eve of Italy's match with
Azerbaijan, indicating that Conte's future will be at the top of
the agenda after the match.
"We have to clinch the qualification so as not to have
problems on Tuesday with Norway," he said.
Conte signed a two-year contract with the FIGC on August
14, 2014, following the resignation of Cesare Prandelli as head
coach of the national team.
Among successes he has notched up was Italy's 2-0 defeat of
Norway in Oslo September 9, 2014, in their opening 2016 European
Qualifying match. It was the first time Italy defeated the
Norwegians in Norway since 1937.
Italy lost only one match out of ten under Conte though he
sparked controversy by calling up Brazilian-born Eder and
Argentine-born Franco Vazquez for the team.
Both have Italian nationality and Italian relatives but
some commentators said all national players should be born in
Italy.
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