Udinese are reportedly set to part ways with Kosta Runjaic after the 5-2 defeat by Roma, with Paolo Zanetti named as the leading candidate to replace him.
Kosta Runjaic’s time in charge of Udinese appears to be over. The Friulian club are set to dismiss the German coach following Saturday’s 5-2 home defeat by Roma, according to reports in Italy on Sunday evening.
As Football Italia reports, citing Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, Udinese have already made their decision and are expected to confirm it in the coming hours. Fantacalcio goes further, writing that Runjaic is no longer the Udinese coach. As of Monday morning, however, there was no announcement on the club’s official website.
Five points from ten games
The numbers explain why the club have run out of patience. Udinese have collected just five points from their opening ten Serie A matches, with one win, two draws and seven defeats, and they sit in the relegation zone.
The defence has been a particular worry. Udinese have let in 23 league goals, and only newly promoted Monza have conceded more, with 24. Roma scored four times inside 37 minutes in Udine on Saturday, and in the previous home game Milan had also left the Friuli with all three points.
Runjaic was asked after the Roma match whether he was still the right man for the job, and he made it clear the answer was not in his hands. We covered his comments on Sunday morning: Runjaic: Not up to me to decide my Udinese future after Roma rout.
The club’s own account marked the end of that evening against Roma.
Zanetti in pole position
Paolo Zanetti is reported to be the front runner to take over. Football Italia says several sources name him as the leading candidate, while Fantacalcio writes that a few details still need to be settled but an agreement appears close.
If the deal is completed in time, Zanetti could be on the bench for the trip to Venezia on Friday 6 November, kick-off 20.45. Udinese fans living in Friuli Venezia Giulia will not be there to see it: the Prefect of Venice has barred ticket sales to residents of the region for that game, as the club announced last week.
Runjaic’s record in Udine
Runjaic arrived in the summer of 2024 and, by Football Italia’s count, the 55-year-old has led Udinese in 94 games, winning 33, drawing 18 and losing 43. His first two seasons ended in comfortable survival, but this campaign has gone badly wrong.
The news comes at a difficult moment off the pitch as well. On Sunday the club announced that president Gianpaolo Pozzo is in hospital in Udine with pneumonia, adding that his condition is stable and that he is being closely monitored by medical staff.
Read also: More Udinese news on FootItalia
