Luciano Spalletti Steps Down as Italy Boss After Admitting Shortcomings

 

Luciano Spalletti Steps Down as Italy Boss After Admitting Shortcomings Luciano Spalletti has officially stepped down as Italy's national team coach, admitting in his final press conference that he has not improved the squad and is leaving it in a difficult state for his successor. Spalletti’s final match in charge came on Monday, with a 2-0 win over Moldova. However, the victory did little to erase the disappointment of a 3-0 loss to Norway just days earlier in their opening World Cup qualifier. That defeat proved to be the final straw for the Italian Football Federation, even as Spalletti himself refused to resign. "I'm disappointed with the result," said Spalletti after the Moldova game. "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." Spalletti, who was appointed in 2023 following Italy's early exit from the previous international cycle, led the team through a mixed Euro 2024 campaign and failed to spark a revival. “I tried, I made mistakes, I even experimented,” he admitted. “I haven’t been able to get the best out of these players.” While acknowledging his shortcomings, Spalletti insisted he never considered walking away on his own: “If you accept to coach the national team, then you must find solutions—not excuses. I didn’t resign because I believed I could do better.” With Italy yet to announce his replacement, veteran manager Claudio Ranieri is widely tipped as the frontrunner. Spalletti offered little advice, reflecting instead on his tenure: “I tried to shake things up. Maybe I made things worse. Only time tells.” He closed by wishing the new coach and the federation the best, conceding: “I left the national team just as I found it.”

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