Luciano Spalletti

Italian football manager who won the Serie A title with Napoli in 2023, two Russian league championships with Zenit Saint Petersburg, and two Coppa Italia trophies with Roma. Former head coach of the Italy national team.

Born on March 7, 1959

Age: 67

Profession: Football Manager, Professional footballer

Place of Birth: Certaldo, Florence, Italy

Luciano Spalletti was born on March 7, 1959, in Certaldo, near Florence, Italy. He is an Italian football manager and former professional midfielder. After beginning his coaching career at Empoli FC, he managed several Italian clubs, including Udinese, AS Roma, Inter Milan, and SSC Napoli, as well as Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia. He won the 2022–23 Serie A championship with Napoli and managed the Italy National Football Team from 2023 to 2025. In October 2025, he became head coach of Juventus FC.

Early Life and Playing Career

Luciano Spalletti grew up in Tuscany and began playing football in the youth systems of Fiorentina and Cuoiopelli. He subsequently played for Castelfiorentino before joining Entella Bacezza in 1978. His early professional career was spent mainly in the lower divisions of Italian football.

At Entella, he played under coach Gian Piero Ventura. In 1986, he joined Spezia Calcio, where he spent four seasons before moving to Viareggio in 1990. He completed his playing career at Empoli FC between 1991 and 1993, primarily operating as a midfielder.

Beginning of His Coaching Career

After retiring as a footballer, Luciano Spalletti began working with Empoli's youth teams in 1993. He briefly took charge of the first team in 1994 and became its permanent manager in 1995.

Under his management, Empoli won the Coppa Italia Serie C in 1996 and earned successive promotions to Serie B and Serie A. The team remained in Italy's top division during the 1997–98 season.

Spalletti subsequently managed Sampdoria during the 1998–99 season, followed by Venezia, Udinese, and Ancona. His early appointments included periods of relegation battles and managerial changes.

Udinese and Roma

In 2002, Luciano Spalletti returned to Udinese. He guided the club into European competitions and achieved fourth place in Serie A during the 2004–05 season, securing qualification for the UEFA Champions League.

He was appointed manager of AS Roma in 2005. His team adopted an attacking approach based on possession, movement, and flexible positioning. Captain Francesco Totti frequently played in an advanced central role without a traditional center-forward.

During his first spell at Roma, Spalletti won two consecutive Coppa Italia titles in 2007 and 2008 and the Supercoppa Italiana in 2007. He also received the Serie A Coach of the Year award in 2006 and 2007. He left Roma in September 2009.

Zenit Saint Petersburg

In December 2009, Luciano Spalletti became manager of Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg. He led the team to two Russian league championships, in 2010 and the 2011–12 season, as well as the Russian Cup in 2010 and the Russian Super Cup in 2011.

During his time in Russia, he worked with players including Danny, Axel Witsel, and Hulk. Zenit also competed in the UEFA Champions League under his management. He left the club in March 2014 after more than four years in charge.

Return to Italy: Roma and Inter

After nearly two years away from coaching, Luciano Spalletti returned to AS Roma in January 2016, replacing Rudi Garcia. He guided the team to third place in Serie A that season and second place in 2016–17. His second period at Roma included disagreements over the playing time and role of longtime captain Francesco Totti, who retired in 2017.

In June 2017, Spalletti was appointed manager of Inter Milan. He led the club to consecutive fourth-place finishes in Serie A, returning Inter to the UEFA Champions League after six seasons away from the competition. He departed in May 2019.

Napoli and the Serie A Championship

Luciano Spalletti was appointed head coach of SSC Napoli in 2021. During the 2021–22 season, the club finished third in Serie A. The following season, Napoli won the 2022–23 Italian championship, securing the title on May 4, 2023, with a draw against Udinese.

It was Napoli's first Serie A championship in 33 years, since the 1989–90 season when Diego Maradona played for the club. Spalletti's team included Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Stanislav Lobotka, and captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Napoli also reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in 2023.

Spalletti left Napoli at the end of the championship-winning season and received the Enzo Bearzot Award and the Serie A Coach of the Season award in 2023.

Italy National Team

In August 2023, Luciano Spalletti was appointed head coach of the Italy National Football Team, succeeding Roberto Mancini. He officially began his tenure in September 2023 and guided Italy through qualification for UEFA Euro 2024.

At the tournament in Germany, Italy advanced from the group stage but was eliminated by Switzerland in the round of 16. Spalletti continued as national team coach during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

Following a 3–0 defeat to Norway in June 2025, the Italian Football Federation announced the end of his tenure. His final match was a victory against Moldova on June 9, 2025.

Juventus

On October 30, 2025, Luciano Spalletti was appointed head coach of Juventus FC, succeeding Igor Tudor. His initial contract was scheduled to run until June 30, 2026.

On April 10, 2026, Juventus announced that Spalletti had signed a contract extension until June 30, 2028. He continued leading the Turin club in Serie A and European competitions.

Personal Life

Luciano Spalletti is married to Tamara Angeli, whom he met while playing for Spezia. They have three children: Samuele Spalletti, born in 1992; Federico Spalletti, born in 1995; and Matilde Spalletti, born in 2011.

Outside football, he has been involved in agricultural and wine-production activities in Tuscany. He has generally kept his family life away from extensive media coverage.