Italy are looking for a new coach following the sacking of Luciano Spalletti.
Spalletti revealed his contract had been terminated in a press conference on Sunday ahead of Monday’s World Cup qualifier with Moldova.
The decision followed a dreadful start to qualifying for the Azzurri, who were hammered 3-0 by Norway on Friday, leaving them nine points shy of the Group I leaders, who have played two games more.
Spalletti will take charge of the game with Moldova, but the focus for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is to find a successor who can help them avoid the humiliation of missing out on a third successive World Cup. Prior to 2018, Italy hadn’t failed to qualify since the 1958 tournament.
With the likes of Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil), Antonio Conte (Napoli) and Massimiliano Allegri (AC Milan) all unavailable, we look at the favourites to take on that challenge, as well as some outside potential candidates.
Luciano Spalletti’s press conference.#Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/ZKG9Vm0ahd
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) June 8, 2025
The favourites
Stefano Pioli
The vastly experienced former AC Milan, Inter Milan and Fiorentina boss is under contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
However, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Al-Nassr uncertain after they missed out on AFC Champions League Elite qualification, Pioli surely could be tempted by a move back home and the potential chance to lead his country at a World Cup.
His prior relationship with captain Gianluigi Donnarumma and key midfielder Sandro Tonali from his time as a Scudetto-winning coach of Milan could help his case as a candidate.
Claudio Ranieri
Ranieri ceded the stage at Roma to Gian Piero Gasperini on Friday, ending his stint as interim coach to become a manager and advisor to the club’s ownership. However, he now potentially has the chance to extend a coaching career spanning nearly four decades by taking charge of the national team for the first time.
Ranieri’s previous foray into international football was a disaster, as he lasted just four games as Greece coach in 2014. He failed to win a game and was dismissed after a loss to Faroe Islands in qualifying for Euro 2016.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s first day at Trigoria 📸#ASRoma pic.twitter.com/Kk4VpgKUrg
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) June 6, 2025
Yet the 73-year-old’s stock is high after his spell with Roma, whom he led to a fifth-placed finish in Serie A in 2024-25, missing out on Champions League qualification by a point.
Consistently well liked by players throughout his career, Ranieri could help provide the emotional lift Italy clearly require.
He bid an emotional farewell after his final home game as Roma boss, but it seems there is a strong chance Ranieri’s last hurrah could be as the leader of the Azzurri.
Outsiders
Daniele De Rossi
Roma and Italy legend De Rossi has been out of coaching since leaving the Giallorossi last September, but he could present a tempting option as a player who knows what it is like to win the World Cup with Italy, having done so in 2006.
De Rossi became the owner and chairman of Serie D club Ostiamare in January, yet it’s unlikely those responsibilities would prevent him from jumping at the chance to lead the national team.
Gennaro Gattuso
Another member of the World Cup winning side from 19 years ago, Gattuso has already enjoyed a nomadic coaching career, working in Switzerland, Greece, France, Spain and Croatia as well as in Italy.
The only silverware he has to show for his time in the dugout to this point is the Coppa Italia he won with Napoli in 2020.
He left Hajduk Split in June, having led them to a third-placed finish in which they missed out on the Croatian title by just two points.
Like De Rossi, there would be questions as to whether Gattuso has the pedigree to lead his country, while temperament could also be seen as a concern.
Roberto Mancini
The powers that be at the FIGC could be forgiven for a feeling of temptation regarding a return for the man who last guided them to tournament success.
But they would also be wise to remember that Mancini famously failed to secure qualification for the 2022 World Cup, suffering an infamous defeat to North Macedonia in the playoffs, and his stock has not risen since his 2023 resignation.
Mancini had a brief and unsuccessful spell as Saudi Arabia boss, with his most recent involvement in football at any level being as a consultant for Sampdoria, who were relegated from Serie B this season. While Italy might yearn for the glory Mancini delivered at Wembley in 2021, they would probably be better served looking to a new era rather than trying to recapture the past.
Roberto De Zerbi
Though the coaches Italy who would otherwise be at the top of the FIGC’s list are unattainable, there is reason to think De Zerbi could be prised away from Marseille.
De Zerbi followed up his impressive spell in charge of Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League by leading Marseille to a second-placed finish in Ligue 1. While they were well adrift of champions Paris Saint-Germain, a return to the Champions League represented a successful season for Marseille.
Grazie mister, THANK YOU COACH! 🇮🇹
⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/9eB2pypa2E
— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) May 18, 2025
Yet it wasn’t an entirely smooth first season in Provence for De Zerbi. There were reports of a player mutiny in April after De Zerbi was said to have refused to take training following a 3-1 loss to Reims. Those were subsequently dismissed by De Zerbi and forward Neal Maupay in a press conference.
Marseille lost just one of their last seven games following the defeat to Reims and De Zerbi has reportedly turned down an approach from Tottenham to replace Ange Postecoglou. That would suggest De Zerbi is happy at the Stade Velodrome, but the challenge of turning Italy around and qualifying for the World Cup might be a more appealing one than the seemingly futile task of trying to interrupt PSG’s dominance in France.
The appointment of De Zerbi seems unlikely, but it can’t be ruled out.
