Ventura has been named, Tuesday, june 7, 2016 as the new Italy coach and will take charge after Euro 2016.
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Antonio Conte will leave the post following the side’s European Championship campaign in France to join Chelsea and Italy have turned to Ventura as their new man at the helm.
The Azzurri have announced 68-year-old Ventura as his successor.
FILE – In this Sunday, April 27, 2014, file photo Torino coach Giampiero Ventura gestures during a Serie A soccer match between Torino and Udinese at the Olympic stadium, in Turin, Italy.
The choice of Ventura, a respected coach but nearly unknown outside of Italy, confirms that the Italian team, four-time world champions, most recently in 2006, no longer attracts the big name managers.
Ventura, who will earn a reported 1.3 million euros per year ($1.5 million), will be officially presented on July 18.
The announcement was muted in Italy where the national side, four-times world champions, have lost prestige in recent years, especially following group stage exits at the last two World Cups.
“He’s also taught a lot of Coaches his innovative approaches, he’s brought through many players who went on to the national team, he has huge experience working with the youth sector and I think he has a healthy sense of belonging”.
His five-year tenure at the club came to an end in May when he left by mutual consent. He has never won Serie A or the Coppa Italia, although he led Lecce to the third tier Serie C title in 1996.
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Italy is in one of the toughest groups at the tournament.
