Italy coach Cesare Prandelli hinted on Friday he may not look to stay at the helm after Sunday's Euro 2012 final against holders Spain, saying he had found the job gruelling against a backdrop of match-fixing allegations in his homeland.
"These past two months have been difficult - aside from my excellent rapport with the team and the Federation. (But) these two months have weighed heavily on me and there is not the serenity which I was looking for," Prandelli told a news conference as he contemplated life beyond the final."Shall I be on my way? I have already told you about the quality of life (and its importance to him) and I shall be reflecting on things more calmly. I do not want to say anything
more for the moment - we shall return to this subject in three days (after the final)," said Prandelli, who took the post after the 2010 World Cup finals.
Prandelli, who against all expectations has guided the side to the final including an impressive 2-1 win over heavily-fancied Germany in Thursday's semi-final, has walked away from a coaching post before when in the 2004/05 season he left the Roma job just a few days after taking over because his wife was seriously ill.
{{/usCountry}}Prandelli, who against all expectations has guided the side to the final including an impressive 2-1 win over heavily-fancied Germany in Thursday's semi-final, has walked away from a coaching post before when in the 2004/05 season he left the Roma job just a few days after taking over because his wife was seriously ill.
{{/usCountry}}She subsequently died in 2007 of cancer.
Regarding the match against the Spanish, with whom his side drew 1-1 in their opening Group C match, the 54-year-old said "I hope to prepare as well as possible even though we only have another day to do so.
"We are looking for Spain's weak points and we shall be working on that even though it won't be easy. They are world and European champions."