Who Will Be The New Italy Manager? FIGC Has Already Approached its Top Target

The Italian Football Federation has approached Carlo Ancelotti to replace Giampiero Ventura as manager after the national team failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 60 years, according to reports.

Italy was beaten 1-0 by Sweden over two legs, failing to score in 120 minutes of the playoff match which means the nation won't be at the tournament in Russia next year.

Ventura, who replaced Antonio Conte as manager after Euro 2016, is still in the role but he is facing pressure to either resign or be sacked in the next few days. And his successor could be the experienced Ancelotti, according to Italian broadcaster Premium Sport, after the FIGC (Italian Football Federation) made contact with the 58-year-old.

Ancelotti's two decades in management have largely been spent in Italy, as coach of Juventus and AC Milan, where he won the Champions League twice and Serie A.

He left the San Siro and Italy for the first time in his coaching career after being appointed as Chelsea manager in 2009 by Roman Abramovich. He delivered the Premier League title and FA Cup double but was sacked the following year.

Ancelotti remained away from Italy, winning the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain before winning a third Champions League trophy at Real Madrid in 2014.

His latest role came in Germany as manager at Bayern Munich. He won the Bundesliga last season but was sacked in September after a 3-0 defeat to Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League.

Taking charge of the national team may make sense for Ancelotti. He would begin planning for Euro 2020, which will be held across Europe, immediately.

But Italy is clearly not a weak team despite failing to qualify for the World Cup next year. Only last summer, Conte took the Italians to the quarterfinal of Euro 2016 and was only beaten on penalties, having knocked out holders Spain at the last-16 stage.