Luciano Spalletti has been dismissed as coach of Italy. The 66-year-old coach has been told by the Italian football association that he must leave after Monday’s World Cup qualifying match with Moldova.
“I was not planning to leave, but I take my responsibility,” Spalletti said at a press conference on Sunday. “Winning convincingly tomorrow evening would be perfect for my successor.”
Spalletti’s dismissal follows two days after Italy’s setback in the World Cup qualifier against Norway. ‘La Squadra Azzurra’ lost 3-0 on Friday, making direct qualification for the World Cup seem distant. Italy has missed the last two times at the global final tournament.
Spalletti became coach of Italy in the summer of 2023. He had just become national champion with Napoli and succeeded Roberto Mancini. Spalletti led Italy to the European Championship of 2024, where his team was eliminated in the eighth finals by Switzerland.
In recent months, the Italians have performed poorly. In the Nations League they lost to France and Germany, after which Friday’s defeat in the World Cup qualifier against Norway followed.
Al Nassr coach Stefano Pioli is seen as the main candidate to succeed Spalletti. The name of Claudio Ranieri is also mentioned.