Carlo Ancelotti's wealth of coaching experience puts him in pole position to replace Gian Piero Ventura at the head of the Italy national team.
Ventura was dismissed on Wednesday by FIGC president Carlo Tavecchio after failing to take Italy to the World Cup for the first time in over 60 years.
Juve 21/20 favs for Serie A title
The coach had declined to offer his resignation in the wake of play-off defeat at the hands of Sweden, but his position was always going to be under threat following this week's historic failure.
Now Goal understands that Ancelotti, sacked himself by Bayern Munich after an underwhelming start to the 2017-18 season, is the man Tavecchio wants to put the Azzurri back on track.
Rediscovery is now the keyword around the Italian federation. The national team needs to rebuild after the qualifying debacle, and they will do so in a red-hot atmosphere. For the time being, the team will have to move forward without a captain at the helm.
Tavecchio, however, knows exactly who he wants. Ancelotti is his prime objective, and may have been for the World Cup even if Ventura had managed to secure passage to Russia. The FIGC chief is in no doubt that the former Bayern, Real Madrid and Milan coach can take Italy to the next level after years of relative mediocrity.
The Azzurri's plea is likely to be heard sympathetically. Ancelotti has never hidden his desire to one day take on his nation's top football job, but he will not do so without certain guarantees.
Money is not expected to be an issue, nor will covering the remainder of his contract costs at Bayern, but those in charge will have to convince the veteran they have a serious project in place to move Italy forward.
As well as landing the coach, who is currently in Vancouver, Tavecchio wants to put a distinguished former player alongside him. Paolo Maldini has emerged as the most likely candidate for that role, even if planning remains in its earliest stages.
The FIGC chief confirmed in the same meeting in which Ventura was relieved of his duties that a Federal Council will be called for next Monday, a summit with the aim of curing the ills of Italian football. There, Tavecchio will also present his plans for the next coach, assuring on Wednesday that he is "thinking in broad, complete terms".
From Canada, Ancelotti is being kept abreast of the situation as he mulls over the chance to take over the bruised Azzurri. The desire is there, no doubt about it, but he will not jump until he is certain he is making the right move.
