Luciano Spalletti reveals Italy exit

Luciano Spalletti’s time as Italy coach will come to an end after Monday’s FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifier against Moldova, according to the official website of FIFA.

Luciano Spalletti has announced that tomorrow’s FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifier against Moldova will be his last in charge of Italy. La Nazionale’s attempt to qualify for a first global finals since Brazil 2014 got off to a poor start on Friday with a 3-0 defeat in Norway. Spalletti revealed FIGC president Gabriele Gravina informed him of the decision last night.

“Gravina told me that he has relieved me of my duties as coach of the national team,” said the 66-year-old. “I had no intention of giving up. Especially when things aren’t going well.

“Tomorrow I will still be the coach against Moldova, then I will leave. I have to take responsibility. Winning and convincing tomorrow night would certainly be important for whoever comes to replace me. I love this shirt, I love my job, and tomorrow night I will ask the team to demonstrate on the pitch what I have always asked of them.”

Spalletti took over in September 2023 after guiding Napoli to their first Scudetto since Diego Maradona inspired them to glory in 1989/90. The Certaldesi finished that year as runner-up to Pep Guardiola for The Best FIFA Men’s Coach.

Spalletti oversaw Italy’s qualification for UEFA EURO 2024. At the finals, an 11th-hour Mattia Zaccagni equaliser snatched them a place in the last 16 at Croatia’s expense, before a 2-0 loss to Switzerland. “We failed because of my team selection,” admitted Spaletti. Italy lost 5-4 on aggregate to Germany in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals in March.

Italy participated in 14 successive World Cups from Chile 1962 to Brazil 2014, but lost to Sweden in a play-off for a Russia 2018 place and North Macedonia in the race to reach Qatar 2022. Overall, they have participated in 18 World Cups – a figure eclipsed only by Germany (20) and Brazil (22).

Vittorio Pozzo masterminded back-to-back triumphs in 1934 and ’38, while A Paolo Rossi-inspired 3-2 upset of Brazil, and a 3-1 victory over West Germany in the final, highlighted their 1982 campaign. Gigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro and Andrea Pirlo starred as a fourth star was sewn on to the camicia azzurra in 2006. Italy have not reached the knockout phase since.