Two Clear Frontrunners Quickly Emerge for the Italy Job | OneFootball

FIGC president Gabriele Gravina wants Claudio Ranieri or Stefano Pioli to replace Luciano Spalletti on the Italy bench. The former Roma coach is the top choice for the federation. He’ll have to be talked into delaying his retirement a second time and diverting his attention from the Giallorossi, La Repubblica informs.

He serves as the owner’s senior consultant and was instrumental in luring Gian Piero Gasperini. He often voiced his love for the Azzurri. Instead, the ex-Milan gaffer would be able to exit his contract with Al-Nassr more easily in July due to fiscal entanglements.

Per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ranieri is leaning toward taking the job and pulling double duty with Roma. It wouldn’t be too challenging or controversial given his role. He helmed Greece for a few months in 2014, with poor results.

Pioli makes €12M currently, but he’s been negotiating a more modest contract to return to Fiorentina, Quotidiano Sportivo informs.

Our Take on Italy, Spalletti, and Ranieri

The former Napoli boss was the right choice at the time, but unfortunately, he didn’t pan out as a national team coach, which is a different beast from managing a team. His vision really came together. Italy’s lineups, scheme, and attitude couldn’t be more distant from his glory days in Campania. It wouldn’t be surprising if Juventus scooped him up eventually.

The veteran has universal approval after his successful second Roma run and has the right traits and character on paper, but some question marks linger. Still, the pool is narrow since Carlo Ancelotti, Massimiliano Allegri, Gian Piero Gasperini, and Maurizio Sarri have all found new homes. The alternative, going with an up-and-comer, is riskier. The switch should have happened after the Euro.