Italy sacks Gian Pierro Ventura.

The Italian Football Federation has sacked Gian Piero Ventura as manager after the 1-0 aggregate defeat by Sweden in the World Cup play-offs meant the national team failed to qualify for the finals for the first time in 60 years.
In a statement on Wednesday night the Italian federation announced that the Ventura’s 16-month reign was over.


“At the meeting convened by the chairman, Carlo Tavecchio, which was attended by the presidents of the federal members a discussion was had following the failure of the national team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup,” the statement read.
“As a first point on the agenda, Tavecchio communicated a decision of the technical guidance committee, and to date, Gian Piero Ventura is no longer the national team head coach.”


The decision was taken shortly after a stormy meeting in which the Footballers’ Association president, Damiano Tommasi, walked out shortly after asking Tavecchio if he intended to resign. The answer was no.
The 69-year-old Ventura said after the Sweden match: “I apologise for the result but not for the effort and hard work. I do realise the result is the most important thing.”
A decision is yet to be taken on who will succeed Ventura , with Tavecchio telling reporters after the meeting that the federation have been “thinking of important names” to replace Ventura. Carlo Ancelotti, out of work since being sacked by Bayern Munich earlier this season, is the early favourite for the role. Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, Roberto Mancini, currently in charge of Zenit St Petersburg, and Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri are the other names reportedly in the frame.




The Guardian.