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Fabio Cannavaro has publicly declared that coaching the Italian national team is his ultimate ambition, even as he serves as head coach of Uzbekistan under a contract that runs until at least October 2027.
“My goal and dream is to coach the Italian national team,” Cannavaro said in an interview with Sky Sport Italia. “I am not simply travelling around the world — I am working to achieve great goals. I want to work seriously to reach important results.”
The former Juventus and Real Madrid defender, who captained Italy to the 2006 World Cup title, reflected on his recent spell at Serie A club Udinese, where he took charge for six matches and kept the club from relegation. He said the outcome of that stint still stings. “Normally in 99 per cent of such situations the contract with the coach is extended, but in my case a different decision was made, and I accepted it. I was not happy about it, but I took it as experience gained at a wonderful club where all the conditions exist for a coach to develop and succeed.”
Cannavaro was appointed head coach of Uzbekistan’s national team in October 2025, replacing Timur Kapadze. He signed a contract structured on a 2+3-year basis, meaning his mandatory term runs to October 2027, with an option for a further three years. Before taking the Uzbekistan post, he had also managed Benevento in Serie A and Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.
The interview comes after a period of speculation about his future with Uzbekistan. Insider journalist Fabrizio Romano had earlier reported that Cannavaro was considering leaving the role following a rescheduling of the Asian Cup. The Football Federation of Uzbekistan subsequently denied those reports, saying they did not reflect reality.
Cannavaro’s comments to Sky Sport Italia do not indicate any imminent departure from his current post, but they make plain that he regards the Uzbekistan assignment as a step in a longer career trajectory aimed at the Italy job rather than an end in itself.