By Andrew Warshaw
July 9 – Reports from Russia and Italy say Roberto Mancini could quit his role as manager of Manchester City to take over the Russian national team on a six-year contract that would cover the period of the country hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Mancini (pictured above), who led City to their first English league title in 44 years in May, is reportedly being offered a deal worth £6 million ($9 million/€8 million) a year.
The Russian Football Union (RFU) is looking to put in place a long-term strategy following the country’s highly disappointing first-round exit from the 2012 UEFA European Championship finals and the subsequent departure of Dutch coach Dick Advocaat.
According to its website, the RFU will name the official candidates to replace him tomorrow.
“Because of numerous reports about the so-called agreed candidates…and having former RFU chief [Sergei Fursenko] signing contracts with them, the RFU would like to officially state that at the moment, it has not signed any contracts with any possible candidates,” the RFU said in a statement.
“On Tuesday, July 10, a list of coaches will be published on the RFU’s official website and with whom the RFU will start contract negotiations.”
It is highly unusual for a federation to say publicly which coaches they are talking to especially if they are already in employment.
But there has been constant speculation over who will replace Advocaat for one of the best-paid jobs in European football, with Fabio Capello, Pep Guardiola (pictured above) and Zenit St Petersburg’s Italian coach Luciano Spalletti all among those apparently vying with Mancini.
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