Luciano Spalletti has revealed himself that he’s been sacked as Italy’s head coach following a catastrophic stint leading the Azzurri, with Claudio Ranieri tipped as the frontrunner to take over. His departure is on the heels of Italy’s crushing 3-0 loss to Norway in their first qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup.
After missing out on the last two World Cups, Italy are desperate to dodge the embarrassment of missing out for a third consecutive time. The Italian took the helm in August 2023 after Roberto Mancini left for Saudi Arabia.
Despite bagging the Serie A crown with Napoli in the 2022/2023 season, Spalletti found it tough going on the international stage. His run included a difficult Euro 2024 campaign, where Italy were knocked out against Switzerland in the last-16, only managing a single victory in the group phase.
Under Spalletti’s watch, Italy scraped together a measly 11 wins out of 23 games, marking the most disappointing record from an Italian national team manager since Cesare Prandelli’s tenure wrapped up in 2014. In the build-up to Monday’s qualifier against Moldova, which Spalletti will oversee before bowing out, he spilled the beans about his dismissal.
“I spoke with (FIGC president Gabriele) Gravina last night and he informed me that I will be relieved of my duties as national team coach,” uttered a disheartened Spalletti during the press conference. “I am disappointed: given the relationship we have, I had no intention of stepping down. Especially when things are not going well, I would have preferred to stay and do my job.
“However, it is a dismissal and I have to accept it. I have always seen this role as a service to my country and I want to facilitate the future of the national team. I think it is right to seek the best solution.”
After Norway’s defeat, Spalletti remained confident he could turn things around but was not afforded the opportunity. But the experience left him feeling wounded, as he lamented his struggles changing the country’s fortunes.
“It hurt me not to have brought out the best in everyone, to reach the quality of play that I would have liked. I’m sorry for myself. By accepting I knew that there would be difficult moments to get through,” he said.
“You were also kind to comment on the game the other night. We deserved worse. I created problems for the movement. I was convinced that I could have done differently. We have to play a match worthy of the shirt we wear, of the name we represent.
“I’ll be there tomorrow night against Moldova. These are the results under my management and I have to take responsibility. I love this shirt, this job and the players I’ve coached: tomorrow night I’ll ask them to demonstrate what I asked even if I haven’t been able to get them to express their best.”
Spalletti remains optimistic about Italy’s chances, encouraging his players to strive for victory and end their World Cup drought. “I want to end with a good win. I expect a lot from the players.
“They are the right men, in my opinion, to carry forward this rule that must exist, of having to go to the World Cup, even if there are complications. By now it has happened too many times to believe we are better than others without taking action on ourselves. I expect an awareness. I would like proof that I was wrong to be a coach, not to choose people”.
The press conference took a dramatic turn when Spalletti abruptly left after being questioned if he felt betrayed by the dismissal. His final words before exiting were: “Betrayed? No, I just said that…” and with that, he stood up and walked out.