Udinese: Only a miracle can save Kosta Runjaic—three names are already lined up to replace him
The situation at Udinese has now reached the point of no return. Saturday’s latest setback against Roma (4-0 for the Giallorossi after 37 minutes, 5-2 at the final whistle) forces the Friuli-based club to come to terms with its seventh loss in the last eight league games—a merciless run of results whose only slight consolation was the lackluster scoreless draw on the road against Parma last weekend.
With performance in a steady nosedive and a worrying standing in the standings, Kosta Runjaic’s position on the Friuli bench appears dramatically compromised. Barring any sensational turnarounds or surprise decisions in the coming hours, only a miracle could prevent the coach’s dismissal. Meanwhile, the Bianconeri management has already set to work to identify the right candidate to take over as head coach and immediately shake things up. In particular, three candidates have caught the club’s attention.
The first name on the list is Igor Tudor, who would represent a welcome return as well as a sure bet in terms of his familiarity with the club. The Croatian coach, ready to get back in the game after his unsuccessful stints at the helm of Juventus and Tottenham, has already sat on the Friuli bench on two separate occasions: first from April to June 2018 and then from March to November 2019, securing two crucial relegation escapes in both instances before the second termination of his contract.
The second candidate is Paolo Zanetti, a manager with extensive experience in handling complicated situations and fighting to avoid relegation. Out of work since February 2026 following the end of his stint with Hellas Verona, the Venetian coach boasts two major relegation escapes achieved on the field in his resume—the first while leading Empoli in 2023 and the second at the helm of Hellas Verona in 2025.
Finally, the third candidate represents a truly high-profile prospect: Thiago Motta. The former coach of Bologna and Juventus, currently a free agent, is carefully evaluating his various options for a return to the bench. For the Italian-Brazilian, accepting a position like the one in Udine could mean starting over in an environment without high league-table ambitions but with a solid foundation—ideal for rediscovering the verve and tactical ideas that distinguished the early part of his coaching career.
