Luciano Spalletti, the head coach of the Italian national football team, has revealed he was informed by the Italian FA that he would be relieved of his duties. This announcement follows Italy`s 3-0 defeat against Norway in the opening fixture of the Azzurri`s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Spalletti disclosed the federation`s decision during the press conference held before Monday`s match against Moldova, stating he would still manage the team for that game, despite knowing his tenure would end immediately afterward.
“FA president Gabriele Gravina informed me that I will be relieved of my role as head coach of the national team after the match against Moldova,” Spalletti stated. “I regret this outcome; I would have preferred to stay and attempt to change things. My relationship with Gravina is excellent, but I accept this dismissal based on the negative results.”
Spalletti took charge of the Italian squad in August 2023, stepping in after former head coach Roberto Mancini resigned. He led the team through a disappointing Euro 2024 tournament, where Italy were eliminated by Switzerland in the Round of 16. Spalletti remained at the helm of the Azzurri, but performances did not improve, resulting in three losses in their last four matches, including the significant 3-0 defeat against Norway in their first 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Before concluding the press conference and responding to a question about feeling betrayed, Spalletti challenged reporters, saying, “Keep saying that I haven`t found a connection with the players? Tell me with whom. Name names. Given what has happened lately, I think we need to work on the sense of belonging to this national team. Considering my character, perhaps I`ve been too lenient. If any player has told you something over the phone, I expect to be informed.”
Potential Candidates to Succeed Spalletti
According to circulating reports, two primary candidates are being considered to take over from Spalletti: former Milan coach Stefano Pioli and the widely respected manager Claudio Ranieri. Ranieri famously guided Leicester City to a historic Premier League title nearly a decade ago in one of modern football`s most astonishing achievements. Stefano Pioli is currently managing Al-Nassr but is reportedly expected to leave the Saudi club, with Fiorentina having also shown interest in him following Raffaele Palladino`s departure. Claudio Ranieri concluded his managerial career at AS Roma at the end of the 2024-25 season and now serves as a senior advisor to the club`s ownership, led by American businessman Dan Friedkin. As the situation stands, these two individuals are reportedly the names the FA is considering to potentially turn the team`s fortunes around and prevent missing a third consecutive World Cup, after Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
