Inzaghi, Sarri and Other Italian Coaches Chelsea Can Hire After Links to De Zerbi

• Roberto De Zerbi is one of Chelsea's potential managers next season
• The Blues could sack Mauricio Pochettino after just one year in charge
• Some sections of the fanbase are clamouring for an Italian tactician

Five Italian managers have worked at Chelsea since Gianluca Vialli became the first, as player/manager in 1998, and all except one have achieved success at the club.

Some sections of the fanbase are clamouring that the next manager should be Italian if Mauricio Pochettino is shown the door by the end of the season after just one year.

Sports Brief looks at five Italian managers Chelsea could hire next season if Pochettino is sacked.

Italian managers Chelsea could hire

1. Roberto De Zerbi

Per The Guardian, the Brighton boss and Ruben Amorim are on the club's consideration list. Some fans have backed De Zerbi because of his Premier League experience, while others cheekily because of his nationality. He has some of his previous coworkers and players in London, making him the most favoured candidate.

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2. Simone Inzaghi

Inzaghi is one of the best managers in the country. He led Inter Milan to the UEFA Champions League final last year and are 15 points clear at the top of the Serie A table this season. Per Football Italia, the club extended his contract to 2025 in the summer, but amid reported links, they are in discussion to further that until 2027.

3. Maurizio Sarri

Sarri managed Chelsea in the 2018/19 season and won the UEFA Europa League. He is having an inconsistent season at Lazio, with the club ninth on the table, 11 points from the top four. His preferred 4-3-3 possession-based formation and lack of interference in recruitment policy make him a good fit for the London club.

4. Antonio Conte

He was a Premier League and FA Cup winner during his time at Stamford Bridge. He has been without a job since leaving Tottenham Hotspur in March 2023. Per Goal, he left the Blues on acrimonious terms in 2018, suing the club for a £9 million payoff after he was sacked. It's a new club, and he is one worth trying for Todd Boehly and Co.

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5. Thiago Motta

Former Barcelona midfielder, Motta, is catching the eye of top European clubs with his exploits at Bologna. The Brazil-born Italian manager has the club in fourth place on the Serie A table. He is one of the ideal candidates for the Blues' new policy of youth players.

6. Stefano Pioli

The 2022 title-winning manager is set to leave AC Milan this summer, with the club already looking for replacements. The highlight of his career was winning the league with Milan, but his availability in the summer makes him one to consider.

7. Luciano Spalletti

The 64-year-old led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years last season but left after differences with Aurelio De Laurentiis. He is currently the Italy national team manager and is contracted till 2026. His engagement at Euro 2024 makes picking up a club job difficult this summer.

How Italian managers fared at Chelsea

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Sports Brief also analysed how Italian managers performed at Chelsea after some fans clamoured for coaches of that nationality to take over amid links to De Zerbi and Amorim.

In previous stints, Calcio managers have delivered two Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League trophy, with Ranieri the only one who never led them to a trophy.