The search for a new Italy boss will et down to the "nitty-gritty" starting Wednesday, newly elected Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) chief Giovanni Malagò said Monday night.
    Malagò said new technical director Paolo Maldini, the Italy and AC Milan defending legend, will start "focusing all his energies on the choice".
    Maldini was hired as technical director to oversee a rebuild after Gennaro Gattuso resigned after Italy became the first former world champions to fail to qualify for the World Cup for the third straight time.
    Andrea Pirlo, Pep Guardiola, Antonio Conte, and Roberto Mancini are the primary candidates on the shortlist to take over.
    2006 World Cup hero Pirlo is manager of UAE First Division League club Dubai United, while Guardiola has just left Manchester City and Mancini and Conte, both former Azzurri bosses, are currently free.
    Speaking at the annual charity Match of the Heart between politicians and journalists on the one hand and singers on the other, Malagò indicated that Mancini, who won the Euros in 2020, might be his preferred choice.

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