Featured Image Credit: FIGC
Topics: Italy, FIFA World Cup
Ryan Smart
Italy manager Luciano Spalletti has walked out of a press conference in which he bizarrely announced his own sacking.
Spalletti's future came under increasing question on Saturday night after Italy suffered a shock 3-0 defeat to Norway in World Cup qualifying on Thursday.
Although it was Italy's first match, only one team from their five-nation group qualifies automatically for the World Cup and Norway have won all three of their matches to this point.
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By Sunday morning, it was widely reported that Spalletti was expected to lose his job after a meeting with Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina, who called the defeat 'unacceptable'.
No official announcement had been made as of Sunday afternoon, however - with Spalletti breaking ranks to announce the decision himself in a press conference.
He explained: "Gravina told me that I will be relieved of my duties.
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"I'm sorry, but given the relationship we have, I had no intention of giving up, I would have preferred to stay in my position and continue to do my job.
"However, then, it is dismissal and I have to take note of it. I will terminate the contract. Until tomorrow evening (Monday), I will be the coach."
Soon afterwards, a reporter asked Spalletti if he felt he had been 'betrayed' over losing his job.
The Italian took a few seconds to think of an answer, before instead deciding to walk out of the room.
Despite announcing his own exit, Spalletti will take charge of Italy's second World Cup qualifier against Macedonia on Monday before leaving his post.
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The 66-year-old replaced Roberto Mancini at the helm in August 2023, after requesting to take a year-long sabbatical from Napoli weeks earlier.
Under his management, Italy could only reach the last 16 of Euro 2024 - a tournament they won under Mancini three years earlier - following a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland.
The defeat to Norway was Spalletti's sixth in just 21 matches in charge and ultimately resulted in his departure.