Claudio Ranieri Would Give Up Nantes For Italy Job

After failing to qualify for the World Cup Italy decided to sack their manager. Currently Luigi di Biagio has the role on an interim basis but Claudio Ranieri has admitted he'd drop everything for the chance to be in charge of the national side.

The World Cup is certainly going to be weird without Italy this summer. The country shaped like a boot has won the tournament four times, the most recent only in 2006, and haven't missed a tournament since 1958.

But this isn't a great generation of Italian players and they were helped through the Euros two years ago by having a great manager in Antonio Conte. Two years later and they had a pretty hapless one in Gian Piero Ventura to qualify for Russia.

Italy players fail to hide their emotions after being knocked out of the World Cup. Image: PA Images

They got through to a play-off but lost to Sweden and so Ventura was sacked. There was no planto who would take over so under 21s manager Di Biagio is in charge of upcoming friendlies, including a match against England.

Speaking to Sky Italia Claudio Ranieri threw his hat into the ring to be his country's next permanent manager, saying:

"Any Italian coach would love to be in charge of the national team. I have a contract with Nantes for two years and I have not received any messages, so I can't say anything.

"But if I were to be contacted for the Italy job, I'd go to the Nantes president and ask to be released."

Still incredible that this happened. Image: PA Images.

There's a good chance that Ranieri would be up there as one of the leading candidates for the job, seeing as he's an Italian with experience and who has been successful, however his last job in international football didn't go too well.

The Roman took over as manager of the Greek national side for Euro 2016 qualification but was sacked just months later with his team bottom of their group after losing to Faroe Islands, a position they didn't recover from.

Ranieri looks on as Greece lose. Image: PA Images

He was sacked as manager of Leicester just a few months after winning the Premier League but just four months later got a job with Ligue 1 side Nantes. His side currently sit fifth in the French top tier.

It remains to be seen whether Italy will go for an experienced manager in the likes Ranieri or Carlo Ancelotti or if they'll stick with Di Biagio.

Topics: Football News, Claudio Ranieri, Ligue 1, Italy

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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