Conte had a strong impact at Napoli, after taking the job in the summer of 2024, following a disappointing season for the club. In one year, Conte was able to bring the club back to success and won the 2024-25 Scudetto, also thanks to some financial investments that made it possible, most notably the addition of Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku. At the same time, Napoli were able to focus exclusively on domestic competition in his first season, having failed to qualify for any European tournament the previous campaign, one year after winning the title under Luciano Spalletti. 

The second season proved more challenging, as injuries and the demands of the Champions League took their toll on Napoli’s Serie A campaign, preventing them from keeping pace with Inter. Conte decided to step back from his duties more than a month ago. As he reported before the last Serie A game to DAZN, “The President knows what I will do, he knows that since at least one month.”

Conte is now considered one of the leading candidates for the Italian national team job, after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the third time in a row for the World Cup, marking the lowest point in the history of the national team. Conte will have to wait at least until June 22, when the Italian FA elects its new president. The two candidates are former FIGC president Gianluca Abete and former Italian National Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malagò. 

Conte was already the Italy manager from 2014 to 2016, leading the Azzurri at the 2016 UEFA Euro, only losing to Germany on penalties in the quarterfinals. Whoever wins the election will have the opportunity to reappoint Conte as Italy’s next head coach, an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed.