Antonio Conte is leaving Napoli after the last match of the Serie A season, ending his two-year tenure with the Italian club where he won one Serie A title (2024-25) and one Supercoppa Italiana.
The 56-year-old Italian coach will step down at the end of the current season for personal reasons, despite having a contract running until summer 2027. He informed the club president more than a month ago, as he confirmed to DAZN before the final Serie A game.
"The President knows what I will do, he knows that since at least one month," Conte said.
Conte's Impact at Napoli
Conte took the job in the summer of 2024, following a disappointing season for the club. In just one year, he brought Napoli back to success and won the 2024-25 Scudetto.
The additions of Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku were crucial to the title win, as the club made significant financial investments to strengthen the squad.
In his first season, Napoli were able to focus exclusively on domestic competition after failing to qualify for any European tournament the previous campaign—one year after winning the title under Luciano Spalletti.
Challenges in Second Season
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 to address these difficulties.
Italy Manager Favorite
Conte is now considered one of the leading candidates for the Italian national team job, after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the third consecutive World Cup—marking the lowest point in the history of the national team.
He 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.
Whoever wins the election will have the opportunity to reappoint Conte as Italy's next head coach—an opportunity that shouldn't be missed.
Conte previously managed Italy from 2014 to 2016, leading the Azzurri at the 2016 UEFA Euro, where they lost to Germany on penalties in the quarterfinals.
He will now be available to clubs across Europe, but he remains the leading candidate for the Italy job ahead of the Italian FA presidential election on June 22.