Jose Mourinho, the Benfica coach, has called on Italy to choose a homegrown manager for their next national team appointment.
Italy’s football federation is currently looking for a new head coach following the resignation of Rino Gattuso, who stepped aside after being unable to lead the Azzurri to qualification for this summer’s World Cup.
Mourinho, formerly in charge at Inter Milan, had been linked with the role but has dismissed any possibility of taking it.
Mourinho said: “Someone asked me if I would coach their national team (Italy): my answer is that they don’t need a foreign coach.
“They have Massimiliano Allegri, Antonio Conte, and I could name five or six others, but that’s not the point.”