June 10, (THEWILL) – Claudio Ranieri has turned down the Italian Football Federation’s offer to succeed Luciano Spalletti as national team coach, opting instead to remain in a senior role at Roma.
The 73-year-old confirmed his decision in a statement on Monday, citing his commitment to the club’s long-term project under the Friedkin family.
Ranieri had recently overseen Roma’s rise from 16th place to a fifth-place finish in Serie A during a brief interim spell.
Spalletti’s departure was confirmed on Sunday, just two days after Italy suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Norway in their first 2026 World Cup qualifier.
The loss extended a period of instability for the national team, which had also exited Euro 2024 at the last-16 stage following a 2-0 loss to Switzerland.
Spalletti had been in charge since taking over from Roberto Mancini in August 2023.
Ranieri said the offer to lead the national team was “a great honour” but insisted his decision to decline was entirely personal.
“The Friedkins have given me their full support and backing for whatever decision I have taken regarding the national team, but the decision is mine alone,” he told Italian news agency ANSA.
He added that his focus now lies in helping Roma’s new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini from a strategic position.
The veteran coach, who won the English Premier League with Leicester City in 2016, has managed clubs across Europe including Chelsea, Juventus, Valencia, and Monaco.
He also won major domestic honours in Italy and Spain, as well as guiding Cagliari to promotion from Serie B in 2023 before stepping down last year. The Italy job would have been his 25th managerial post in a career spanning nearly four decades.
Attention now turns to who the Italian federation will approach next, with the national team’s qualification campaign already under pressure.
With Spalletti’s tenure ending after just 11 wins in 23 matches, the FIGC faces a time-sensitive decision ahead of the autumn fixture
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
