Italy not in a good place for successor, says sacked coach Luciano Spalletti

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti reacts after the match. PHOTO: REUTERS

UPDATED Jun 10, 2025, 10:40 AM

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ROME – Luciano Spalletti took charge of Italy one last time on June 9, and while his side sent him off with a win, the sacked manager accepted that he is not leaving the team in a great place for his replacement and has failed to improve them.

Spalletti paid the ultimate price for a 3-0 drubbing in Norway on June 6 as Italy's World Cup qualifying campaign was already compromised in their opening game, and an uninspired 2-0 home win over Moldova was not how he wished to bow out.

"I'm disappointed with the result," he said at his final press conference.

"I don't give back to those who come after me a great national team because we didn't play a great match tonight either. I was given the opportunity to work, I tried, I made mistakes and I even tried some experiments.

"I try to learn everything in whatever I approach, I'm not convinced I'm the smartest one. I haven't been able to get the best out of these players and I have to take note of that."

The Italian announced his own dismissal on the eve of the Moldova match, which comes after less than two years in the role and included a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign.

While he never thought of resigning, he again conceded he has failed to improve things.

"If you agree to coach the national team like I did, then you have to find the solution. You can't hide behind the fact that you have few players, you start to find alibis," Spalletti said.

"I did badly and in some ways it is right that I go home. But I didn't resign, because I think I can do better. But, if I am told that I am no longer the one, then I sign the resolution (of the contract).

"I left the national team as when I found it, just as it is."

It was perhaps a fitting end to Spalletti’s time on the bench as another lacklustre showing failed to light up a far from full Stadio Citta del Tricolore.

With Italy’s slow, predictable build-up play failing to break through the visitors’ rearguard, the hosts were given an early wake-up call when Ion Nicolaescu found the net only for his goal to be ruled out for offside.

Italy’s first threat came when defender Luca Ranieri, making his international debut, hit the crossbar with a header, and they found the breakthrough five minutes before the break.

A headed clearance fell to Giacomo Raspadori in the box who struck first time into the bottom corner but Moldova almost levelled before half-time when Oleg Reabciuk’s shot from distance was parried away by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Italy doubled their lead five minutes into the second half when substitute Riccardo Orsolini sent a low cross into the area which Davide Frattesi knocked on to Andrea Cambiaso who fired past keeper Cristian Avram.

Spalletti’s name was booed by large sections of the crowd when read out before kick-off, and the game failed to improve the mood, and Italian fans will hope for better when a replacement, rumoured to be Claudio Ranieri, is installed.

Italy have yet to name a new coach, with Ranieri reported to be the first choice, and Spalletti was asked if he had any advice for his eventual successor.

"I tried to shake things up when I arrived but then maybe it was worse from what we saw," he said.

"You realise whether you did right or wrong only later, I tried some things and worked hard. I wish all the best to the federation and to the new coach who will arrive." REUTERS

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