1 / 10

Davide Dionigi
This is the hot tip in the twittersphere. Fleming says the former Italian midfielder did some very good work in the third tier in Italy with Taranto before taking over at Reggina Calcio where things haven't gone as well. The team sits in the relegation zone and just one from the bottom, having dealt with a three point deduction for their part in the Calicoscommesse match-fixing scandal. The 38-year-old may become available sooner rather than later with former Modena coach Cristiano Bergodi said to be waiting in the wings to replace him at Reggina.

2 / 10

Luigi De Canio
Fleming describes him as capable and experienced and says his sacking by Genoa a few weeks ago was unwarranted. Perhaps most significantly he has experience working overseas in an English speaking country with Queens Park Rangers where he was popular among fans for bringing flair to the game. Fleming says the 55-year-old is likely to meet with Del Piero's approval after masterminding a shock 2-0 win for Lecce over Juve in February 2011.

3 / 10

Alessandro Birindelli
The former Juventus fullback played alongside Del Piero at club and national level and is currently assistant coach at Dinamo Bucharest. He turned 38 on Monday making him three days younger than Sydney’s star signing. Fleming says another former team-mate of ADP’s and a potential target is Gianluca Pessotto who worked as a team manager at Juve before moving into the youth sector. But the 42-year-old has had some well publicised personal problems that may work against him.

4 / 10

Edoardo Reja
Reja left Lazio at the end of last season where, Fleming says, he was underappreciated for his good work with a thin squad. Likely to have Del Piero's respect because of his experience, at 67 years of age Reja has coached more than 20 clubs and seen it all - except perhaps Australia.

5 / 10

Marco Giampaolo
At 45, Giampaolo has not lived up to the hype surrounding his early success with Serie B side Ascoli, helping them gain promotion to the Italian topflight and then saving them from relegation. Once tipped for coaching stardom, Fleming says the former midfielder has had the gleam knocked off his reputation by a few sackings (most recently from Serie A outfit Cesena) and a spell abroad could be ideal for him at this point.

6 / 10

Graham Arnold
What would it take to lure Arnie away from Central Coast Mariners? Sydney FC failed to get him over the line earlier this year – just – but then Alessandro Del Piero wasn’t even on the radar. A good offer to him - and the Mariners - plus the chance for international exposure by leading the Sky Blues and the Italian legend back up the table could be enough to win over the ambitious 49-year-old coach. Then again, the Mariners are tracking nicely at the top of the table and the former Socceroos striker may feel he has unfinished business on the championship front.

7 / 10

Ernie Merrick
After quitting his position as head coach of the Hong Kong national football team last month, the former Melbourne Victory tactician is back on the market. Merrick enjoyed a successful spell with Sydney FC’s bitter rivals, bringing the club two Premiership and two Championship trophies which is exactly why Sky Blues fans won’t want him within cooee of the harbour city. Already a couple of high profile Victorians pull the club’s strings and fans may feel this is a bridge too far.

8 / 10

Branko Culina
Recently taking the reins at NSW Premier League outfit Rockdale City Suns, the former Sydney FC coach made a good fist of the club’s first Asian Champions League campaign before a stuttering start to the subsequent season and a change of board brought a swift end to his tenure. The 55-year-old has made no secret of the fact he wants to return to the A-League after being unceremoniously dumped by Newcastle Jets on the eve of last season. Out too went Socceroo son Jason who, it just so happens, is on the verge of lining up for the Sky Blues after nearly two years on the injury list. The father and son act wasn’t given a chance at the Hunter outfit - could Sydney take a punt on it now?

9 / 10

Miron Bleiberg
Our own version of the “special one” the colourful Bleiberg has perhaps one eccentricity too many for a club keen to steady the ship. God knows where Del Piero would play in the lizard formation! There is no doubt the 57-year-old’s teams play entertaining football and A-League fans will be keen to see the former Queensland Roar and Gold Coast United mentor back in the Aussie topflight after the disrespect dished out by mining magnate Clive Palmer, but this may not be not the time nor the place. His former sidekick Mike Mulvey, like many of the talented assistants out there, has probably been ruled out by Crooky's experience in the job.

10 / 10

Frank Farina
Punters have backed the former Socceroos and Brisbane Roar coach into favouritism for the Sydney job and he ticks a number of boxes. After steering some big personalities in the national team for six years he’ll have no problem dealing with egos and expectations. Of Italian descent he won’t need an interpreter either, the next time ADP fires up on the sidelines following another sub-par team performance. The 48-year-old former Socceroos striker recently announced his willingness to re-engage with Australian football after short stint as Papua New Guinea coach. Dumped by Roar in 2009 for a drink-driving offence, Farina picked up the Alex Tobin Medal for Services to Sport earlier this year and Sydney FC may feel the time is right to bring him back into the fold.