Tashkent, Uzbekistan — March 30: Uzbekistan boss Fabio Cannavaro reacts as his side faces Venezuela in a friendly. (Photo by Anvar Ilyasov/Getty Images)
Cannavaro confessed his ambition is to helm Italy’s national side, and he still can’t grasp why Udinese let him go in 2024.
Speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb on Sky Sport Italia’s Calcio Unplugged, the World Cup‑winning former captain highlighted his current role guiding Uzbekistan, who reached their debut World Cup this summer.
‘My aim and dream, plain as day, is to manage Italy and its national team,’ he told reporters. ‘I’m not chasing globetrotting gigs in Asia—I’m grinding for real milestones.’
Udinese coach Fabio Cannavaro reacts during the Serie A clash with Roma at Udine’s Friuli‑Dacia Arena on April 25, 2024. EPA‑EFE/GABRIELE MENIS
His sole Serie A stint came with Udinese, appointed for the final five games of 2023‑24 and steering the club to safety on the last matchday, yet his contract wasn’t renewed. For my money, that brief rescue proved his ability to deliver under pressure.
‘I tasted Serie A in those five fixtures, rescuing Udinese. Usually clubs keep you on, but a different call was made and I accepted it,’ he said. ‘No explanation was given, but I viewed it as a priceless experience at a top‑flight club with all the tools to succeed.’
The remarks arrive days after Udinese dismissed Kosta Runjaic and installed Paolo Zanetti.
At 53, Cannavaro has also led Al‑Nassr, Guangzhou Evergrande and China’s national team. ‘I’d make those choices again; today my international résumé fuels my growth as a coach and a person.’
His Uzbekistan tenure hangs in the balance after the Asian Cup was postponed. ‘I’ve already met the president and I love the project, yet I still crave coaching,’ he said. ‘The nation is pouring money into youth academies—last camp I debuted a 17‑year‑old.’
He added what he misses about club work. ‘Daily life as a club coach pumps adrenaline: you see players every day, talk, help them improve and prep for matches.’
National team coaching, he likened, is like a Neapolitan espresso—short, ten days to get everything right, and you must deliver a solution. It’s incredibly stimulating. Will Italy give him the chance he craves?