Gianni De Biasi is being considered as the next Socceroos manager, according to reports in Albania.

Italian De Biasi, who guided unfancied Albania to the 2016 European Championships, resigned from that international job just last month.

And Albania’s SuperSport website claims he is now being lined up as a possible replacement for Ange Postecoglou.

The report suggests FFA chairman Steven Lowy is considering De Biasi if Australia fails to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

In any case, Postecoglou has already announced that he wants to coach overseas and is likely to step down next year even if he does guide the Socceroos to Russia.

De Biasi played as a midfielder for Inter Milan, Brescia, Palermo in the 1970s and 80s, before moving into coaching in Italy.

He guided Torino into Serie A in 2006, but achieved his greatest managerial success after being appointed Albania boss in 2011.

De Biasi masterminded an amazing Euro2016 qualifying campaign which saw Albania finish above Denmark and Serbia to reach the finals for the first time in their history.

Albania did not disgrace themselves in the tournament itself as they beat Romania and only narrowly lost to Switzerland and France to finish third in their group.

De Biasi has stepped down from the Albania job midway through their qualification for the 2018 World Cup – although they trail powerhouses Spain and Italy by seven points in their group and are highly unlikely to reach the finals.