Ranieri unwilling to take 'Impossible' Italian national team job

Who will take on the real Italian Job if Claudio can't?

Claudio Ranieri said on Tuesday he has turned down the vacant Italy manager's job, after the four-time world champions sacked Luciano Spalletti.

Ranieri will stay on with AS Roma as their senior advisor.

Former Napoli coach Spalletti, 66, announced his own dismissal on Sunday following Italy's 3-0 drubbing by Norway in their opening World Cup qualifier on Friday.

Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and have made an indifferent start to their 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

With their form generally indifferent for the last 12 months and more, a real job is needed to get them up to competitive level.

Ranieri, who recently retired for a second time after his spell at Roma last season, said he was honoured to have been offered the job by Italian Football Federation President Gabriele Gravina.

He says, though, that he owes his current employers a term of service to execute the goals they initially had at the club.

"I thank President Gravina for the opportunity, a great honour, but I have reflected and decided to remain available to Roma in my new position totally," he told Italian news agency ANSA.

He admitted that his bosses at Roma had told him that they would not hold it against him if he resigned for the national team job but he chose otherwise.

"The Friedkins (Roma owners) gave me their full support and backing for whatever decision I had made regarding the national team but the decision is mine alone, he said.

Ranieri helped Roma finish fifth in Serie A last season to qualify for the Europa League.

The 73-year-old Italian has been replaced by former Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini at Roma.

The Italians currently lie third in Group I of the 2026 World Cup Qualifying.

They have just three points from 2 matches played. Leaders Norway have 12 from 4 matches played. Italian job indeed.