FIGC president Carlo Tavecchio hopes Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri can one day guide Italy to success at the World Cup.
The Foxes defied the odds this season to claim the Premier League title with two games to spare - the club's first top-flight crown in their 132-year history.
Tavecchio was in awe of Ranieri's achievement and hopes he will one day be able to lead Italy to world football's greatest prize.
However, the official would not be drawn on whether the 64-year-old would succeed current Azzurri coach and incoming Chelsea boss Antonio Conte in the dugout after Euro 2016.
"I hope Ranieri can win a World Cup with Italy, that would be the best," Tavecchio told reporters on Monday after Ranieri was given the Enzo Bearzot award for best Italian coach of the season.
"In Italy the scale of Claudio's success is a unique thing. This means that we export the Italian style with competence, commitment and sense of duty. All are features that are recognised in Ranieri.
"I'm speaking in an abstract way, of course, and not necessarily about the next World Cup [in 2018]. Claudio is still young and will have time on his side.
"Have we thought about him [Ranieri] as a replacement for Conte? It's him who should be thinking about us.
"We're thinking about a lot of different things right now but those in his second sporting homeland are wishing him every success."
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- Goal