The announcement of Luciano Spalletti’s departure opens the Italy bench wide open. However, the Italian Football Federation has a clear favourite to take over as coach: Claudio Ranieri.
The resounding 3-0 defeat against Norway has dynamited the Italian national team. The main victim of this result, which leaves the ‘Azzurri’ in a very delicate position in order to qualify for the World Cup in 2026, has been a Luciano Spalletti who will no longer be the national coach after the match against Moldova.
This was confirmed to the press by the coach himself. A decision taken by a Federation that has already begun the casting to find a new coach for the Italian bench. And the name that sounds the most surprising.
According to ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’, the great favourite to take the reins of Italy is none other than the veteran Claudio Ranieri. The Roman coach, who will be 74 years old in October, has left a great taste in his mouth after his good work during the last few months at Roma and would be in pole position to take the job.
According to the information, Ranieri would be the number one candidate of an Italian Federation that has also considered the name of Stefano Pioli, although the former Milan player would currently be a secondary option in case Ranieri’s bid does not come to fruition.
Claudio’s arrival on the Italy bench would be a surprise for the times, as it would be the icing on the cake of a highly successful career that began back in 1986 and has taken Ranieri to some of the best benches in European football although he has never had the opportunity to coach his national team in almost 40 years.