Matic backs Conte for Italy while calling for youth overhaul

In a quiet office in England, Sassolo midfielder Nemanja Matic sat down with Repubblica for a lengthy interview, declaring he would choose Antonio Conte as the next CT of the Nazionale italiana, praising the former coach as the only candidate he has worked with and won with.

Matic added that the current head, Roberto Mancini, inherits a difficult situation at the helm of Italy’s national side. He suggested the challenges stem from recent performances and structural issues within the squad.

He argued that Italian football’s academy system needs a thorough revision, urging a shift toward the models employed in Spagna, Inghilterra and Francia. According to Matic, those countries produce a steady flow of talent through modern youth structures.

Matic said that, were he president of the FIGC, reforming the youth academies would be his first priority, even though he recognised such a transformation would be hard to achieve. He stressed that institutional support is essential for lasting change.

The midfielder revealed he holds a UEFA B coaching licence and aims to obtain a UEFA A licence within a year. He is currently attending a coaching course in England, noting that comparable programmes are unavailable in Italy for active players.

Looking beyond his playing days, Matic described his post‑retirement vision as that of an itinerant coach, ready to join any club that invites him to the bench. Nevertheless, he affirmed that his home will always remain Serbia.

Repubblica highlighted the interview on Google Discover under the “Preferred sources” tag and featured it in its A‑A+ press section. The full conversation was published, offering readers an in‑depth look at Matic’s views on the Nazionale and the future of Italian football.