Successor of Spalletti wanted
German trainer is apparently candidate for Italy-job
12.06.2025 – 3:14 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Italy is looking for a new national coach. The desired candidate declined. Now a former Bundesliga coach comes into play.
After the disappointing start to the World Cup qualification, Italy’s association reacted: Luciano Spalletti is no longer a coach of the “Squadra Azzurra”. The search for a successor is running – and the name Domenico Tedesco also falls.
As the Italian sports newspaper “La Gazzetta Dello Sport” reports, the 39-year-old is said to be one of the candidates. Tedesco is currently without a club after he had to clear his post as Belgian national coach at the beginning of the year.
According to information, the former coach of Schalke 04 and RB Leipzig is fundamentally interested in a commitment in his country of birth. A job at the Italian football association would be of particular importance for him because he was born in Rossano (Calabria).
Tedesco with his family is currently in Italy. He had rejected a request from the SSC Naples before the European Championship in 2024. If the association offered, the decision could be different.
In addition to Tedesco, another prominent name brings into play: Gennaro Gattuso. According to the Italian media, the 47-year-old is said to have already had initial talks with the association after the candidate Claudio Ranieri canceled.
Gattuso played 73 caps for Italy and was part of the World Championship team in 2006. As a coach, he worked for SSC Naples, among other things, with which he won the Italian trophy in 2020.
The background to the coaching discussion is the 0: 3 defeat against Norway at the start of the World Cup qualification. After the game, the association took consequences. In the subsequent 2-0 win against Moldova, Spalletti was sitting on the bench for the last time.
The concern in Italy is growing to miss a big tournament again – after the 2018 and 2022 World Championships, participation in the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico is also on the brink.