Ranieri turns down Italy job to stay on at Roma as senior advisor
MILAN - Claudio Ranieri said on Tuesday he has turned down the vacant Italy manager's job, after the four-times world champions sacked Luciano Spalletti, and 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.
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.
"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.
"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."
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 The 73-year-old Italian has been replaced by former Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini at Roma. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close
SINGAPORE – Some 38,720 fans were treated to a spectacle between English Premier League sides Arsenal and Newcastle United at the National Stadium on July 27, which saw the star turn of 15-year-old Max Dowman as the Gunners won 3-2. The game wrapped up the 2025 Singapore Festival of Football, which also featured a game between Arsenal and Italian giants AC Milan on July 23, with the London side winning 1-0. The crowd on July 27 was a marked improvement from the 22,813 that turned up for the first game, although there were still swathes of empty seats visible. Those who did turn up were treated to an unveiling of new Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede, who signed for a reported £55 million (S$94 million), had been announced by the Gunners on July 26, and received rapturous applause from the Arsenal supporters as he strolled out onto the pitch at Kallang in an Arsenal kit with the number 14 emblazoned on the back of his jersey. The action on the pitch, too, was an upgrade from the somewhat plodding football that was on display at times in the Arsenal-Milan game. Newcastle's own new £55 million recruit Anthony Elanga opened the scoring in the sixth minute, but Arsenal responded with quickfire double in the 33rd and 35th minutes through Mikel Merino and an own goal from young Newcastle defender Alex Murphy. Arsenal striker Kai Havertz, perhaps playing with a point to prove, created both goals. Jacob Murphy equalised for Newcastle in the second half with a low shot from outside the box, before Dowman, who had been Arsenal's brightest spark after coming on as a substitute in the 60th minute, earned a penalty after he was fouled by Joelinton, following a mesmerising run into the box. Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard coolly converted the spot-kick, which proved to be the winner, in the 84th minute. Before this match, the Gunners last came to Singapore in 2018 for the International Champions Cup, where they faced Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid. The Magpies, meanwhile, last visited Singapore in since 1996, when a side featuring Faustino Asprilla, David Ginola and Les Ferdinand thumped an S-League All-Stars team 5-0 in front of 41,000 fans at the old National Stadium. The 2025 Singapore Festival of Football is the first instalment in a five-year partnership between promoters TEG Sport and the Singapore Tourism Board that will also see top European clubs play in Singapore in 2027 and 2029. Full report to follow.
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
From fan to champ, James Lichtenstein wins his first high diving gold at World Aquatics C'ships
SINGAPORE – Competing alongside rivals whom he idolises, James Lichtenstein earned himself a place in the pantheon on July 27 by clinching the high diving title at the World Aquatics Championships (WCH) for the first time. The 30-year-old American, who was trailing leader Carlos Gimeno of Spain by 24.7 points heading into the final round of the men's 27m platform at Sentosa's Palawan Green, executed a clutch dive to claim the gold medal, which was also his country's first at the WCH after 17 days of competition. 'Amazing, incredible, a dream come true. I know I can dive well, but to put it together when it counts is a thrilling feeling,' he said. 'I've been looking up to those guys (his fellow competitors) for years, and I started only four years ago. 'That first year for me was the adjustment period, like 'I'm diving with these idols', but now, I know I can compete with the best of them.' James Lichtenstein in action in round 5 of the men's 27m platform at Sentosa. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Lichtenstein, who started competing in the high diving World Cup only in 2023, had never stood atop the podium previously, coming closest with a silver in the Bahrain leg of the 2024 World Cup. At WCH 2025, he topped the 14-strong field with 428.90 points after round 6, ahead of Gimeno (425.30) and Romania's Constantin Popovici (408.70). Executing five somersaults in the tuck position after a backward take-off, Lichtenstein scored a massive 143.10 points in the final round to surpass Gimeno's armstand 4½ tuck (114.80) and pip him to the gold by 3.6 points. Carlos Gimeno during the sixth round dive. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY 'Not (feeling) so good man,' a sullen Gimeno said at the mixed zone after the final. '(From) being in first all the time for the whole competition… And at the end, just miss the gold by a little bit (three points).' Pointing to his heart, he added: 'That hurt a lot, you know, and that's something that I'm gonna remember, (because it) hit here. 'I guess God didn't want to give me this gold medal this time… But chin up because this sport is so difficult and so dangerous and I'm proud of myself, I put in my best performance.' The Spaniard had led through the first three rounds and again after the fifth, but as he prepared for his sixth and final dive, his hand wobbled while getting in position for his handstand. Gimeno added: 'Normally we have only four rounds of competition. Here we have six rounds, so when I did the handstand, I felt a little tired. But yeah, it's painful. Second place, not good.' But he is keeping a positive attitude and looking to bounce back at the high diving World Cup in Porto Flavia, Italy on Aug 30 and 31. 'It's another competition. So, yeah, that one… Yeah I'm going to win that one. I'm going to remove what I had inside (the pain) and I'm going to win that one.' Popovici, who topped the field after the fourth round, said of his performance: 'In round 5, I missed my back twist by a bit, just a slight short from vertical (entry). In training I did very well, but competition is competition, but I'm happy for third place, and of course, in the future, I wish for a shinier one.'
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Hamilton to start from the pit lane in Belgium
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium - Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix from the pit lane with a new power unit after qualifying only 16th, Ferrari said. The seven-times Formula One world champion won at Spa with Mercedes last year but has had a nightmare so far, qualifying 18th in Friday's sprint qualifying and finishing 15th in Saturday's 100km race. Hamilton has won five times in Belgium and has been on the podium in all but two of the races he has finished at the longest circuit on the calendar. The Briton, who moved to the Italian team in January and has yet to stand on the podium for them, apologised to Ferrari on Saturday for a performance he said was unacceptable. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli will also start from the pit lane after those teams also changed engine components. Sunday's race is set to be wet. The Formula Two feature race started behind the safety car while the Formula Three race was cancelled entirely due to the conditions. REUTERS
