Claudio Ranieri (foto: Getty Images)
Claudio Ranieri has declined the Italy national team job, leaving the federation without a clear successor to Spalletti and under increasing public pressure.
A surprising twist has shaken Italian football, as Claudio Ranieri has turned down the opportunity to become the new head coach of Italy’s national team. Despite being the top candidate to replace Luciano Spalletti, Ranieri decided not to take on the dual role of club advisor and national team coach, citing his age and personal commitments.
At 73, Ranieri has already pledged to focus fully on his advisory role at Roma, where he works closely with the Friedkin family. He recently played a key part in the club’s decision to appoint Gian Piero Gasperini as manager, and felt that taking on another high-pressure role would be too much at this stage of his career.
Although the Friedkins were reportedly open to Ranieri holding both roles, he worried that poor results with the national team could cause unwanted tensions to spill over into his club responsibilities—and vice versa. That concern, combined with his personal values and prior commitments, led him to reject the Italian FA’s offer, which came through president Gabriele Gravina.
The decision leaves Gravina under intense scrutiny. After a 3-0 defeat to Norway and an unconvincing 2-0 win over Moldova, he opted to part ways with Spalletti. However, what’s drawing the most criticism is not Spalletti’s exit, but the lack of a clear replacement strategy.
With Ranieri out of the picture, Stefano Pioli has emerged as plan B. But his situation is also uncertain—Pioli is currently under contract with Al Nassr, and although he is in negotiations to terminate that deal, his main ambition reportedly lies in returning to Fiorentina.