Former Roma coach Claudio Ranieri is supposed to lead Italy to the 2026 World Cup. The 73-year-old would do without his already announced retirement for the second time within a year.
The fear of missing the third World Cup triggered great hustle and bustle with the four -time world champion Italy – and led to an unusual change on the sidelines. When the unsuccessful Spalletti looked after the Azzurri one last time on Monday evening in the World Cup qualification game against Moldau, Claudio Ranieri already got warm as a “savior in need”.
The 73-year-old, most recently coach of the Rio World Champion Mat Hummels at AS Rome, is the favorite for the vacant job. Instead of retiring, as announced twice, Ranieri, according to Gazzetta Dello Sport from the Roma owner Dan Friedkin, had the approval for a double role as a club consultant and national coach. “Ranieri says yes out of love for national team”wrote the sheet. “All paths lead to Rome, also for the national team. Only Sir Claudio can save them”commented the Corriere Dello Sport.
Last season Ranieri was a coach of Mats Hummels. The world champion rarely played from the beginning
Second comeback from retirement
Ranieri would do without his already announced retirement for the second time within a year. After climbing Cagliari Calcio, the coach had already announced his farewell last year before taking over the Roma for the third time in November and led to fifth place. After that, it should actually be finally over, Ranieri just wanted to help as a consultant.
Ranieri’s greatest success was the winning of the Premier League with Leicester City in the 2015/16 season. With a team that started as a relegation candidate, he sensationally led the club to the first championship in the club’s history. This triumph is still considered one of the biggest surprises in modern football. Leicester City will be playing again in the second English league, the EFL Championship.
In 2016 Claudio Ranieri achieved the master sensation with Leicester City
Spalletti have World Cup qualification endangered
Now the next rescue mission is apparently waiting: After the 0: 3 misstep in the World Cup qualification in Norway, Spalletti reported at a press conference on Sunday that he would be released against Moldova after the second game. “I will sit on the bench tomorrow and then give the approval of the termination of the contract”the 66-year-old, who had started with high expectations two years ago after winning the title with the SSC Naples, but could not meet her. “That annoys me: given the relationship we have, I absolutely had no intention to give up. Especially if things were not going well, I would have preferred to continue and did my work”said Spalletti.
Association leader Gabriele Gravina, who, despite the Harscher criticism after the disappointing round of 16 in Germany against Switzerland, recorded him, is under enormous pressure: Because Norway is already nine points in group I, the path in the play-offs around the World Cup ticket-and possibly the third world championship as a spectator. Nevertheless, Spalletti’s announcement came as a surprise, because in the morning Gravina had still defended the coach. He is “An extraordinary person, a noble soul who tries to advance an extraordinary project”said the association boss about his trainer: “The attacks that he is exposed are not justified.” At this point, however, as Spalletti later reported, he had already decided on the separation.