Conte to leave Italy after Euro 2016

Italy FA President Carlo Tavecchio has revealed that national team boss Antonio Conte will leave his role after this summer’s European Championships.

Conte succeeded Cesare Prandelli as Azzurri coach after their disappointing Group Stage exit at the 2014 World Cup, and he subsequently guided the team to qualification for Euro 2016.

The former Juventus coach has been consistently linked with a return to club management, with Premier League team Chelsea his most likely destination, and Tavecchio has now confirmed that Conte will step down from national team duties this summer.

“Conte will leave the national team after the European Championships,” he said. “He misses the training pitch and working with players every day. That’s understandable.”

The 46-year-old has won nine of his 16 matches in charge of the Azzurri, and he also helped the team to remain unbeaten during qualification for the Euros, with seven wins and three draws.

The Italians will take on Spain and Germany in friendly matches later this month, before they face further warm-up games against Scotland and Finland ahead of Euro 2016.

Italy have been drawn in Group E for the finals where they will take on the world’s highest ranked side Belgium, the Republic of Ireland and Sweden.

Conte’s side are available at 2.63 to top the group, whilst they are on offer at 1.15 to qualify for the knockout stages.

Guus Hiddink is set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and everything points to Conte succeeding the Dutchman in west London.