Italian national team manager Luciano Spalletti has reportedly announced he will be stepping down from his role. This decision is said to follow a 3-0 defeat against Norway in the opening fixture of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. According to reports, Spalletti confirmed the federation`s decision during the pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Moldova. He stated that he would still manage the team for that match, fully aware that he would be relieved of his duties immediately afterward.
He was quoted as saying, “The 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. I`m sorry, I would have preferred to stay and try to change things. I have an excellent relationship with Gravina, but I accept the dismissal due to the negative results.”
Spalletti took charge of the Italian national team in August 2023, succeeding Roberto Mancini. He led the squad through a reportedly disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, where Italy exited in the round of 16 after losing to Switzerland. Despite this, Spalletti remained at the helm, but performances reportedly did not improve, with Italy losing three of their last four matches, including the claimed 3-0 loss to Norway in their first World Cup qualifier for 2026.
Before concluding his press conference, when questioned about feeling betrayed, Spalletti responded, “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. Given my character, I think I`ve actually been too soft. If any player has told you something over the phone, I`d like to know.”
Who Could Take Over from Spalletti?
According to various reports, two primary candidates are being considered to replace Spalletti. These include former AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli and the highly respected Claudio Ranieri, famous for leading Leicester City to an unexpected Premier League title almost a decade ago. Pioli, currently managing Al-Nassr, is reportedly expected to depart the Saudi club. Ranieri recently concluded his managerial career at AS Roma at the end of the 2024-25 season and is currently serving as a senior advisor to the ownership group. The Italian FA is reportedly evaluating these two individuals, hoping to steer the team towards better results and avoid missing another World Cup, following their absence from both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
