ROME — Claudio Ranieri has decided not to tackle the challenge of guiding Italy back into the World Cup, a feat that eluded both Roberto Mancini and Gian Piero Ventura. Renowned for his success in Italian soccer, Ranieri confirmed on Tuesday that he declined the opportunity to lead Italy’s attempts to qualify for their first World Cup since 2014.
Ranieri, respected and beloved in the Italian soccer community, expressed his gratitude to President Gabriele Gravina for the offer to manage the Italian national team. The invitation had followed a tough beginning to Italy’s qualifying campaign which saw them suffer an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to group leaders Norway.
In the wake of that loss, coach Luciano Spalletti was dismissed, although he managed to lead the team to a 2-0 victory over Moldova before his exit. Ranieri, who recently took on an advisory role with the Friedkin family, the owners of Roma, seemed a potential candidate for the vacancy.
“The Friedkins supported me in whatever decision I chose regarding the national team,” Ranieri explained, although he emphasized that it was his decision to remain with Roma. His commitment to the club came after a heartfelt farewell from Roma fans, a testament to his impactful work reviving the club.
Ranieri has a storied coaching career spanning four decades, with only a brief spell as a national coach. His experience with Greece in 2014 was notably unsuccessful. However, he later redeemed his reputation by leading Leicester City to an unbelievable Premier League victory in 2016, a triumph that defied expectations of relegation.
Following his dismissal from Leicester in 2017, Italy was embarking on their own rocky road to World Cup qualification under Ventura, which culminated in a playoff defeat by Sweden. Consecutive failures followed under Mancini, as Italy missed out once again in March 2022, losing to North Macedonia after trailing Switzerland in their group.
With Italy seeking a new coach before facing Estonia on September 5 in Group I, the urgency is palpable. Norway currently tops the group with four consecutive wins, buoyed by Erling Haaland’s scoring prowess. Italy sits nine points adrift in third place but has played two fewer matches. Presently, Israel holds the second position.
The climactic encounter will see Italy hosting Norway on November 16, where only the group leader will secure direct entry to the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The second-placed team faces playoff matches scheduled for the following March.