Antonio Conte makes Tottenham admission in first interview after exit and plays down Napoli talk

Ex-Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has downplayed talk of an immediate return to management with strong reports in Italy linking him to Napoli.

Rudi Garcia’s job is on the line after a difficult start to the season that has Italian champions Napoli in fifth in the league table. A host of names have been linked with the job including former Chelsea manager Graham Potter and Marseille legend Igor Tudor.

But it is Antonio Conte who is leading the polls to return to management in the coming weeks. The Italian manager won the Scudetto with Juventus and Inter Milan and led Chelsea to their last Premier League title in 2017 when everyone thought Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp would win it.

At Tottenham, he had immediate success when he led the team back to Champions League football despite taking them from almost mid table. A combination of poor health, losing his close friend and issues of player transfer meant he threw his toys out of the prawn and was eventually relieved of his duty.

Asked whether he was looking to return to coaching soon, he said he was very clear when he left Spurs that he wanted to spend time with his family. He told Calciomercato: “Future? I enjoy my family. I made a clear choice when I decided to stop with Tottenham.

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“I want to rest and enjoy my family but many things can happen along the way. Napoli? Great respect and education are needed.”

Tottenham have since employed Ange Postecoglou, a man who is relatively unknown compared to Conte but who has guided the team to their best start to a top-flight campaign in almost 50 years.

He has lifted the mood, with fans back to dreaming again after last-minute wins against Sheffield United and Liverpool, and a dominant performance against Manchester United.