Luciano Spalletti Named Italy Manager After Qualification Disaster

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is about to name Luciano Spalletti as the new head coach of the Squadra Azzurra. The Tuscan tactician, whose name has been circulating insistently through federation corridors, is set to take charge of a national team in full reconstruction.

Spalletti is a familiar figure in Italian football: a former manager of Roma and Inter Milan, he also managed Napoli, which he led to the Serie A title in 2022-2023, ending thirty-three years of waiting for the Naples club. His track record in Serie A and his deep knowledge of the Italian player pool make him a natural candidate to revive the national team.

Italy is going through a turbulent period. After the humiliation of elimination in the group stage of Euro 2020 — won on the pitch but followed by failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup — the federation is seeking a man capable of restoring a clear playing identity to the Nazionale and seriously preparing for the 2026 World Cup.

Spalletti’s appointment would mark the end of Roberto Mancini’s tenure, who had nevertheless given Italy its European title in 2021 before unexpectedly leaving his post. His successor, Luciano Spalletti, will inherit a talented squad but one lacking direction, with the heavy task of reconciling the tifosi with their national team.