Claudio Ranieri has turned down the opportunity to coach Italy’s national football team, opting not to take on the challenge where Roberto Mancini and Gian Piero Ventura both struggled — leading the four-time world champions back to the World Cup.
Ranieri, one of Italy’s most respected and admired coaches, confirmed on Tuesday that he rejected the offer to guide Italy’s troubled World Cup qualification campaign. Italy has not played in a World Cup since 2014.
“I am grateful to President Gabriele Gravina for considering me,” Ranieri told Italian news agency ANSA, referring to the head of the Italian Football Federation.
The coaching role became vacant just five days after Italy suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to group leaders Norway in their opening World Cup qualifier. Despite that setback, coach Luciano Spalletti was allowed to oversee Italy’s next match, a 2-0 win over Moldova, before his dismissal.
Ranieri, 73, appeared to be an available candidate after once again stabilizing AS Roma this season. Following his coaching success, Ranieri had transitioned to an advisory role with the club's Texas-based owners, the Friedkin family.
“The Friedkin family gave me their full backing to make my own decision regarding the national team, but the choice was entirely mine,” Ranieri explained to ANSA.
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The veteran coach received an emotional farewell from Roma supporters for a second consecutive season. He had previously saved Cagliari from relegation, cementing his reputation for reviving struggling teams.
Calling the Italy job “a great honor,” Ranieri said he took time to reflect and ultimately chose to remain committed to his role with Roma.
Ranieri’s illustrious 40-year coaching career includes only a brief spell at the international level — four matches with Greece in 2014, a rare low point in his managerial record. However, he famously rebuilt his reputation by guiding Leicester City to their historic English Premier League title in 2016, defying all expectations.
By the time Ranieri left Leicester in 2017, Italy had already begun their ill-fated 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign under Ventura, which ended with a playoff defeat to Sweden after finishing second to Spain in the group stage.
Italy’s qualification woes continued in 2022 when the European champions, led by Mancini, finished behind Switzerland in their group and were shockingly eliminated by North Macedonia in the playoff semifinal.
With just under three months to appoint a new coach, Italy faces Estonia on September 5 in their five-team Group I qualifiers. Norway leads the group, having won four consecutive games with star striker Erling Haaland scoring in each. Italy sits third, nine points adrift but with two games in hand. Israel is currently second.
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Italy will host Norway in their final qualifier on November 16. Only the group winner will secure a direct spot in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The runner-up will have to compete in the playoff rounds next March.