Luciano Spalletti has confirmed he will be leaving his role as Italy manager following a disappointing start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. The announcement came after a 3-0 defeat against Norway in the opening match. Speaking at a press conference ahead of the subsequent game against Moldova, Spalletti stated he had been informed by the Italian FA president, Gabriele Gravina, that his tenure would end after that match.
“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 stated.
Spalletti took charge of the Italian national team in August 2023, succeeding Roberto Mancini. He led the team through the Euro 2024 tournament, where their performance was considered disappointing, culminating in a Round of 16 exit against Switzerland. Despite this, Spalletti remained in his position, but the team`s form did not improve. Italy has lost three of their last four matches, including the significant 3-0 defeat to Norway which has cast shadows over their World Cup qualification hopes.
During the press conference, when questioned if he felt betrayed by anyone, Spalletti addressed the issue of team connection: “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 Will Step In? Potential Successors Identified
According to reports, two prominent figures are being considered as potential replacements for Spalletti: former Milan coach Stefano Pioli and legendary manager Claudio Ranieri. Ranieri is known for his incredible Premier League title win with Leicester City. Stefano Pioli, currently managing Al-Nassr, is expected to leave his Saudi Arabian club, having also been linked with Fiorentina recently. 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. These two names are reportedly the primary candidates the FA is considering to take the helm, with the hope of revitalizing the national team`s fortunes and avoiding the failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, following absences in 2018 and 2022.
