Following a tumultuous week for Italian football, Claudio Ranieri has declined the opportunity to take over as the national team's head coach. This decision comes after Luciano Spalletti announced his own sacking in the wake of a humbling 3-0 defeat to Norway in a World Cup qualifier. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) moved swiftly to find a replacement, but Ranieri, the experienced manager, has opted to remain in his new role at AS Roma.
Spalletti's departure marks the end of a short but eventful tenure. Appointed in August 2023, he was hailed as a savior, tasked with rebuilding a team that had failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. However, a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, where Italy's title defense ended in the last 16 against Switzerland, and the recent defeat to Norway, proved to be his undoing. Spalletti himself acknowledged his dismissal in a press conference, stating that he had been informed of the decision regardless of the outcome of the subsequent match against Moldova. He did manage to lead Italy to a 2-0 victory over Moldova in his final game, but the result did little to change the overall sentiment.
The FIGC promptly approached Claudio Ranieri, a respected figure in Italian football, to fill the vacant position. Ranieri, known as "The Tinkerman," has a long and successful career, including a memorable Premier League title win with Leicester City. He had also recently returned to Roma, guiding them to a fifth-place finish in Serie A after taking over a team struggling in 12th place. Roma then appointed Gian Piero Gasperini as their new boss, promoting Ranieri to manager and senior advisor to the ownership.
Despite the honor of being considered for the national team job, Ranieri has decided to remain with Roma. He expressed his gratitude to FIGC President Gabriele Gravina for the opportunity but stated that he had reflected and decided to remain at Roma's disposal in his current position. Ranieri emphasized that the Friedkin family, Roma's owners, had given him their full support in whatever decision he made, but the choice was ultimately his.
Ranieri's decision leaves the FIGC searching for a new head coach as Italy faces the prospect of potentially missing out on a third consecutive World Cup. The defeat to Norway has put them in a difficult position in their qualifying group, and they need to win their upcoming matches to secure a spot in the tournament. With Ranieri out of the picture, the focus has shifted to other candidates, with former AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli emerging as a potential frontrunner.
Spalletti, in his final press conference, admitted that he was not leaving his successor with a great Italy squad, acknowledging that the team's performance had been below par. He stated that he had tried to get the best out of the players but had been unable to do so. The next coach will face the challenge of rebuilding the team's confidence and identity and navigating a tough World Cup qualifying campaign.
