Retired Chelsea icon favourite for major international job ahead of World Cup

Claudio Ranieri masterminded Leicester’s 5000-1 Premier League triumph (Photo: Getty)

Claudio Ranieri’s stance on coming out of retirement for a second time to become Italy national team manager has reportedly been revealed.

The former Chelsea and Leicester City manager is one of the favourites to take over the Azzurri after Luciano Spalletti was suddenly sacked on Sunday.

Italy’s hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup are in jeopardy after a 1-0 loss Norway on Friday, a result that leaves them nine points off the automatic qualifying spot, albeit they have two games in hand.

Bizarrely, Spalletti, who was appointed just under two years ago, announced his own sacking in a press conference, but will still take charge of Monday’s clash against Moldova.

‘I spoke with [Italian Football Federation president Gabriele] Gravina last night and he informed me that I will be relieved of my duties as national team coach,’ the 66-year-old told reporters.

‘I am disappointed. Given the relationship we have, I had no intention of stepping down. Especially when things are not going well, I would have preferred to stay and do my job.

‘However, it is a dismissal and I have to accept it. I have always seen this role as a service to my country and I want to facilitate the future of the national team. I think it is right to seek the best solution.’

Luciano Spalletti stormed out of his final press conference after getting sacked by Italy (Photo: Getty)

Spalletti subsequently stormed out of the press conference upon being asked if he felt ‘betrayed’.

The Athletic report that Ranieri, Stefano Pioli and Fabio Cannavaro will be considered for the top job, even though Ranieri has just retired from management for the second time.

The 73-year-old, best known for the 5000-1 Premier League title win with Leicester, announced he was walking away from the dugout last summer following a long career, that also saw spells at Chelsea, Fulham and Watford.

Ranieri has just retired from management for a second time to take up an advisory role at Roma (Photo: Getty)

He U-turned on that decision after just a few months however to take charge of his beloved Roma and after remarkably guiding them to the verge of Champions League qualification, he has taken up an advisory role at the Serie A club.

But it is said Ranieri is the Italian Football Federation’s first choice and they will push to hire him.

Reports from Italy say Ranieri is conflicted over whether to stay at Roma or take charge of Azzurri but is perhaps more inclined toward the former.

The Italian’s only other venture in international management was a disastrous spell in charge of Greece where he failed to win any of his four games and embarrassingly lost to the Faroe Islands.

Despite beating England in the Euro 2020 final, Italy’s recent record on the international stage has been shocking, failing to qualify for the last two World Cups and getting knocked out in the group stage of the two tournaments prior to that.

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