Conte to leave Italy job after EURO 2016

Antonio Conte, appointed just over 18 months ago, will step down as Italy coach after UEFA EURO 2016.

Conte, 46, has been at the Azzurri helm since August 2014, having taken the national-team reins on the back of winning three successive Serie A titles with Juventus. He guided Italy through an unbeaten EURO qualifying campaign and will take them to France with hopes high of going one better than their final appearance of four years ago.

"Antonio Conte told me that his experience with Italy will finish after EURO," said Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio. "Conte is eager to work on the pitch on a daily basis and we can understand him. I talk to him almost every day. We will take our decisions calmly.

"This is the moment to acknowledge the decision of someone who has always worked with commitment and sacrifice and who helped the Italian national team to regain a good reputation. I will always be grateful to him for this. As regards his successor, we will take all the necessary steps because the priority is not Tavecchio or Conte now, the priority is the Italian national team."

Italy are in UEFA EURO 2016 Group E, along with Belgium, Republic of Ireland and Sweden.

• Full UEFA EURO 2016 Group E fixture list

Reporter's view: Paolo Menicucci, it.UEFA.com
Knowing Conte's character, the fact that UEFA EURO 2016 will be his only chance to leave an important mark as Italy coach will motivate him even more. "Whoever knows me, will have no doubt about my full commitment," the coach himself said. Will he manage to transfer this sentiment to his players? With the help of his loyal veterans in the team, including Gianluigi Buffon, who also has one last chance to put his hands on the trophy, he can. And Italy have a tradition of performing well in tricky situations ...

Antonio Conte with the UEFA EURO 2016 trophy©Getty Images for UEFA