Italian national team coach Luciano Spalletti has reportedly indicated he will be stepping down from his role following a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Norway in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. During a press conference held before Monday`s match against Moldova, where he is still expected to be in charge, Spalletti announced that the federation president, Gabriele Gravina, had informed him he would be relieved of his duties immediately after the game.
“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 was quoted as saying.
Spalletti took the helm of the Italian national team in August 2023, succeeding Roberto Mancini. He led the Azzurri through a challenging period that included a round of 16 exit at Euro 2024 against Switzerland. Despite remaining in charge, the team`s performances have not improved, highlighted by three losses in their last four matches, including the recent heavy defeat to Norway in the World Cup qualifying campaign opener.
When asked at the press conference if he felt 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.”
Potential Successors
According to various reports, the two leading candidates being considered to replace Spalletti are former AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli and the highly-respected coach Claudio Ranieri, famous for guiding Leicester City to their improbable Premier League title almost a decade ago. Pioli, currently managing Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, is rumored to be contemplating a departure from the club. Ranieri, who concluded his management career at AS Roma at the end of the 2024-25 season, currently serves as a senior advisor to the club`s ownership, led by American businessman Dan Friedkin. These two names are reportedly at the forefront of the FA`s search as they seek to turn the team`s fortunes around and avoid the potential embarrassment of missing a third consecutive World Cup, following their absence from the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
Benedict Kingsley 
Adrian Whitmore