Cannavaro: ‘It’s my dream to coach Italy; national team coaching is like a Neapolitan coffee’
TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN - MARCH 30: Fabio Cannavaro, Head Coach of Uzbekistan, reacts during the international friendly match between Uzbekistan and Venezuela on March 30, 2026 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. (Photo by Anvar Ilyasov/Getty Images)
Fabio Cannavaro has admitted his dream is to coach the Italian national team, and he still doesn’t understand why Udinese chose not to keep him in 2024.
With quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb, the World Cup-winning captain spoke on Sky Sport Italia’s Calcio Unplugged. He is currently in charge of Uzbekistan, whom he led at their first-ever World Cup this summer.
“My goal and my dream, which is normal, is to coach in Italy and to coach the national team,” Cannavaro said. “I’m working for that, not to travel the world and go to Asia. I want to work hard to achieve important objectives.”
Cannavaro on Udinese exit and his future
Cannavaro’s only Serie A job so far came at Udinese, where he was appointed with five games left of the 2023-24 season and kept the club up on the final day. He was not kept on.
“I had a taste of Serie A in five games, saving Udinese. 99% of the time they keep you on. With me, a different choice was made, and I accepted it,” he said. “It wasn’t explained to me, but I saw it as an experience I was given at a fantastic club, where a coach has everything he needs to improve and do well.”
His comments come days after Udinese sacked Kosta Runjaic and appointed Paolo Zanetti.
The 53-year-old has also coached Al-Nassr, Guangzhou Evergrande and the China national team. “I would make these choices again, because today I have an international background that has helped me grow as a person and as a coach.”
His future in Uzbekistan is uncertain after the postponement of the Asian Cup. “I’ve already met the president. I’m definitely enjoying the experience here a lot, but at the same time I want to coach,” he said. “It’s a country that’s investing a huge amount in youth academies. At the last camp I gave a debut to a 17-year-old.”
Cannavaro also explained what he misses about club football. “The day-to-day for a coach is different. It’s what gives you adrenaline every day: you see the player every day, you talk to him, you try to help him grow and improve, and to prepare for games,” he said.
“Working as a national team coach is like a Neapolitan coffee. It’s short, you have 10 days in which you can’t make a mistake, and you have to find a solution. It’s very stimulating.”
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