Iraola and Italiano emerge as Napoli coaching options after Conte exit
Quick summary
Napoli are evaluating replacements for Antonio Conte after his confirmed departure, with Vincenzo Italiano and Andoni Iraola among the reported candidates. Italiano has also publicly admitted he could leave Bologna this summer.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceVincenzo Italiano, a candidate for the Napoli job, admits he may leave Bologna, while La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Aurelio De Laurentiis is also interested in Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.
Napoli are assessing their option after their coach, Antonio Conte, confirmed his departure from the Stadio Maradona on Sunday.
The Italian tactician spent two seasons at Napoli, winning the Scudetto in 2024-25 and the 2025-26 Supercoppa Italiana.
Iraola among the candidates for Napoli job According to Gazzetta , Milan’s Massimiliano Allegri and Bologna’s Italiano remain the leading Napoli candidates to replace Conte, but De Laurentiis is also monitoring Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – MAY 19: Andoni Iraola, Manager of AFC Bournemouth, talks to the supporters after the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at Vitality Stadium on May 19, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images) Gazzetta reports that Maurizio Sarri’s return was ADL’s top choice, but the Lazio coach is expected to pick Atalanta instead, reuniting with ex-Partenopei director Cristiano Giuntoli in Bergamo.
In the meantime, Italiano has confirmed that he might leave Bologna after failing to qualify for Europe this season.
“There’s a chance that I won’t stay; I can’t deny that. As you know, I’ll meet the club, and we’ll talk,” Italiano told Repubblica.
“I want to return to Europe. I live to give emotions and happiness to people, like last season. Bologna have the right philosophy for programming and optimising everything, avoiding some of the mistakes we’ve made to build a team that could return to Europe without needing miracles. Bologna have expectations, and you’ve got to be transparent with the fans.”
Asked about Napoli’s interest, Italiano replied: “I don’t know. They are assessing many coaches. They might have respect for the work they have done over the years, but I don’t know what to say.”
NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 06: Massimiliano Allegri AC Milan greets Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach before the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) Italiano is under contract with Bologna until 2027. The same is true of Milan’s Allegri, who faces an uncertain future at San Siro after failing to qualify for the Champions League.
De Laurentiis briefly talked about Conte’s replacement during a press conference on Sunday: “ We have a strong team and many players coming back. Perhaps, they had shortcomings for Conte’s style of play, but they might fit in well under a new coach.”
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What happened
Napoli are reshaping their managerial plans after Antonio Conte confirmed he will leave the club. Reports in Italy say Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola are both under consideration, while Massimiliano Allegri also remains in the frame. Italiano has added weight to the speculation by saying there is a chance he will not stay at Bologna and that he wants to return to European competition. The situation points to active managerial uncertainty for both Napoli and Bologna ahead of the new season.
Chance analysis
This matters because Napoli's tactical direction for next season depends heavily on who replaces Conte, whose style was explicitly referenced by Aurelio De Laurentiis. A move for Italiano or Iraola would imply a potentially different game model and could affect squad fit, transfer priorities, and preseason market expectations. Bologna also face possible instability if Italiano departs.
Napoli and Bologna both face short-term planning uncertainty until their managerial situations are resolved.
Treat this as meaningful managerial uncertainty for Napoli and possibly Bologna, but not as a confirmed coaching change beyond Conte's exit.