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Piori, early favourites to take over ranieri azzurri


Italy is looking for a new coach, as follows: Luciano Spalletti’s stolen.

Sparetti revealed at a press conference on Sunday that his contract was over ahead of Monday’s World Cup qualifiers with Moldova.

The decision followed the horrifying start to the qualifying round for Azzuri, who was hammered 3-0 in Norway on Friday, leaving nine points shy for Group I leaders who played more of the two games.

Spalletti will be responsible for the match against Moldova, but the focus of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is to find a successor who can help him avoid the humiliation he missed in the third consecutive World Cup. Before 2018, Italy had not failed in qualifying since the 1958 tournament.

With the likes of Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil), Antonio Conte (Napoli), and Massimiliano Alegri (AC Milan), we’ll look at favourites who will take on the challenge and potential outside candidates.

favorite

Stefanopiolli

The former AC Milan, Inter Milan and Fiorentina bosses, who have had a great time, have signed contracts for Al Nasr, the professional league side of Saudi Arabia.

However, uncertainty after Cristiano Ronaldo at AL-Nassr misses elite qualifications in the AFC Champions League, Pioli could certainly be seduced by his hometown travel and the possibility of leading his country in the World Cup.

His previous relationship with Captain Genluigi at the time as a coach who won the Scudetto in Milan and major midfielder Sandro Tonari could help his case as a candidate.

Claudio Lanieri

Ranieri handed over the Rome stage to Jean Piero Gaspelini on Friday, finishing his stint as interim coach to become manager and advisor to the club’s ownership. But he could now extend his nearly 40-year coaching career by taking on the national team for the first time.

Ranieri’s previous advance to international football was a disaster. He was unable to win the game after only four games as a Greek coach in 2014 and was fired after losing to the Faroe Islands in the qualifying round of Euro 2016.

However, the 73-year-old stock was high after a spell with Roma, which led to a fifth-place finish in Serie A in 2024-25, missing out on the Champions League qualifiers.

Consistently preferred by players throughout his career, Ranieri was able to help Italy provide the emotional lift that it clearly needs.

He said emotional farewell after his last home game as Roma boss, but Ranieri’s final Harley appears to have a strong chance as Azzuri’s leader.

Outsiders

Daniel de Rossi

Rome and Italian legend Derossi has been out of coaching since leaving Gialorrossi in September last year, but has been able to present an attractive option as a player who knows what it’s like to win the World Cup in Italy in 2006.

DeRossi became owner and chairman of Serie D club Ostia Mare in January, but it is unlikely that these responsibilities will prevent him from jumping on the opportunity to lead the national team.

Gennaro Gattuso

Another member of the victorious 19 years ago of the World Cup, Gatuso has already enjoyed a nomadic coaching career working in Switzerland, Greece, France, Spain, Croatia and Italy.

The only silverware he has to show in his time at this point in the dugout is Coppa Italia, which won in Naples in 2020.

He left Hajduk in June, leading them to a third-place finish.

It is questionable whether Gatuso has a pedigree that leads his country, like de Rossi, but temperament can also be seen as a concern.

Roberto Mancini

The powers in FIGC may be forgiven for the sense of seduction about the return of the man who finally led them to a successful tournament.

But they would also be wise to remember that Mancini failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, resulting in a notorious defeat to North Macedonia in the playoffs, and that his stock has not risen since his resignation in 2023.

Mancini had a brief, failed spell as Saudi Arabian boss. His recent involvement in football is at his level as a consultant for Sampdoria, who has been demoted from Serie B this season. Italy may be craving the glorious Mancini delivered at Wembley in 2021, but they will probably look for a new era and provide better service, rather than trying to regain the past.

Roberto de Zerbi

Otherwise, the Italian coach at the top of Figc’s list would not be able to achieve, but there is reason to believe De Zerbi can move away from Marseille.

Deserbi led Marseille to a second-place finish in League One, following the impressive spells in charge of Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League.

But it wasn’t Deserby’s completely smooth first season in Provence. There were reports of a player rebellion in April after De Zerbi was told that he refused to train to the Reims following a 3-1 defeat. They were subsequently rejected by De Zerbi and Forward Neal Maupay at a press conference.

Marseille lost only one of his final seven matches following his defeat to the Reims, and De Zerbi reportedly turned down an approach from Tottenham, replacing Ange Postecoglou. While that suggests that Deserbi is happy with the Stade Belodrome, the challenge of turning Italy and playing in the World Cup might be more appealing than the seemingly useless task of trying to break PSG’s advantage in France.

Deserbi’s appointment seems unlikely, but it cannot be ruled out.



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