Luigi Di Biagio takes top Italy job ‘until replacement found’

ROME

Italy’s under-21 coach Luigi Di Biagio will take temporary charge of the senior team until a full-time replacement is found, the Italian federation (FIGC) has confirmed.

Without a coach since  their shock World Cup qualifying elimination in November, Italy takes on both England and Argentina in friendlies in March.

“We have decided to give the job to Luigi Di Biagio given there are two internationals against Argentina in Manchester and against England in London in March,” the FIGC said on Feb. 5.

Temporary leader of the FIGC, Alessandro Costacurta, first told reporters on Feb. 2 the move was set to happen.

“For the moment Gigi can consider himself coach of the Under-21’s and the interim boss of the senior side too,” said Costacurta, a former Italy international who won five European Cups and played 663 times for AC Milan.

“The most important things are the next matches and finding a new coach.” Italy lost to Sweden in the World Cup play-offs in  November after which Gian Piero Ventura left the post, as the nation’s fans went into mourning.

Di Biagio is an outsider amongst a star line-up of names being linked with the job including Roberto Mancini, Antonio Conte, Claudio Ranieri and Carlo Ancelotti.