Ex-City boss ‘in line for Italy job’

Mancini

Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has been tipped to become the next head coach of Italy.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport the 49-year-old is one of the front runners to replace Cesare Prandelli, who resigned from his post just hours after seeing his team exit the World Cup at the group stage.

They fell to a second successive 1-0 defeat, with Uruguay replicating Costa Rica’s achievement by defeating the Italians courtesy of a solitary strike.

The report claims Mancini faces stiff competition for the role from ex-AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri, who was sacked by the club earlier this year.

He, like the ex-City man, is currently unemployed and is available to start work immediately, making both men a cheaper option than several other names in the frame who are under contract.

Mancini parted company with Turkish club Galatasaray having failed to lead them to domestic title glory last term, when they finished nine points behind champions Fenerbahce.

He did lift the Turkish Cup in his first full season at the club but there has been constant speculation about his future and he departed two years before the end of his contract.

The former striker led City to the Premier League title in 2012 for the first time in their history as well as the FA Cup 12 months earlier.