{"id":587085,"date":"2026-04-05T13:07:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T13:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/587085\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T13:07:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T13:07:11","slug":"inzaghi-rules-himself-out-of-italy-national-team-job-italian-football-will-recover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/587085\/","title":{"rendered":"Inzaghi rules himself out of Italy national team job: \u2018Italian football will recover\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi insists that Italian football \u2018will recover\u2019 after the failure to qualify for the World Cup<\/a> for the third time in a row earlier this week, but has ruled himself out of the running to replace Gennaro Gattuso as head coach of the Italy<\/a> national team: \u2018I have another year on my contract with Al-Hilal\u2019.<\/p>\n

The former Lazio and Inter head coach, currently in charge of Al-Hilal<\/a> in the Saudi Pro League turns 50 today. He is approaching the end of his first season in charge of Al-Hilal<\/a>, who are currently second in the Saudi\u00a0 Pro League, five points shy of Cristian Ronaldo\u2019s Al-Nassr with seven games of the season left to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a fantastic situation in Saudi Arabia from all points of view: The lifestyle, the sporting and non-sporting infrastructure, the calmness that accompanies you even in a stressful job like mine,\u201d Inzaghi told Libert\u00e0<\/a> in an interview published on his birthday.<\/p>\n

Inzaghi on Italy<\/a> national team and personal future: \u2018Fortunately, I didn\u2019t need money\u2019\"Article<\/p>\n

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE \u2013 JUNE 25: Simone Inzaghi Manager of Al Hilal controls a football during the Training ahead of their FIFA<\/a> Club World Cup<\/a> 2025 match between Al Hilal and CF Pachuca at Nashville SC Training Facility on June 25, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Richard Pelham\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The topic of conversation soon turned to Italy\u2019s latest failure to qualify for the World Cup<\/a> following their penalty shoot-out defeat away against Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/a> on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very sorry that Italy<\/a> won\u2019t be at the World Cup<\/a> for the third time in a row,\u201d said Inzaghi.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m 100% Italian, my brother also won a World Cup<\/a>. Italian football will recover, I\u2019m sure of it. Having said that, I left Italian football for a number of reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

The most obvious of those \u2018reasons\u2019 is the significant hike in wages that Inzaghi reportedly received when he decided to move to the Saudi Pro League. He insists that this was not the only motivation behind his decision to leave Italy<\/a>, though.<\/p>\n

\u201cWrong. Earning a lot is a pleasure, obviously, but other factors pushed me here. Fortunately, I didn\u2019t need money.<\/p>\n

\"Article<\/p>\n

Simone Inzaghi is the new coach of Al-Hilal<\/a> (@AlHilal_FC)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe desire to try a completely new experience in a completely new environment. The years I had at Inter were very satisfying from a professional point of view, but also very stressful. I felt the need to experience football at a high level, but to unplug from a load of pressure that had become very heavy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inzaghi\u2019s name has been mentioned by some outlets in Italy<\/a> as a potential candidate to replace Gennaro Gattuso as head coach of the national team. He has effectively ruled himself out of the running, though.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m flattered, but as I said, I\u2019m fine here and I have another year on my contract with Al-Hilal<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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