The Selection Puzzle
NAPLES — Antonio Conte confirmed Sunday he is leaving Napoli after two years in charge, having guided the southern club back to the Serie A title in his first season.
The 56-year-old held a press conference alongside club president Aurelio De Laurentiis following Napoli's final match of the season, a 1-0 win over Udinese.
The trophy did not need much decoration; the season had already done most of the talking.
"A month ago I called the president and told him I sensed our project was coming to an end," Conte said. "I made this decision because at Napoli I failed in one thing: I didn't bring unity to the environment, and so it's difficult to compete with others."
The Fitness Questions
Conte signed a three-year contract when he was hired in 2024, taking over a team coming off a dismal season that had finished 10th — one of the worst defending champions in league history. He delivered the scudetto in his opening campaign.
He previously won Serie A with Juventus and Inter Milan, and also coached Chelsea and Tottenham in the Premier League. Before his club career, he steered Italy to the quarterfinals of the 2016 European Championship, where the Azzurri lost to Germany on penalties.
The Italian national team is currently without a coach after failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third straight time. FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso resigned last month.
The Warm-Up Before It Counts
When asked about the Italy job, Conte was brief: "It's all just talk. As of now I don't know anything about my future. I might well take time out and rest."