Udinese: A Surprise Candidate Emerges to Succeed Runjaic at Udinese

A surprise name has been added to the list of possible successors to Kosta Runjaic as Udinese’s head coach: Thiago Motta. The former Juventus coach is reportedly among the candidates being considered by Udinese’s management, which is weighing the German coach’s future following a crushing 3-0 home loss to Lecce. This latest setback brings the team’s streak of consecutive league losses to five, causing the situation at Udinese to take a sharp turn for the worse.

Runjaic’s position appears increasingly precarious. The club is analyzing the team’s slump and has not ruled out a coaching change to try to shake things up. Discussions are underway, and according to rumors circulating in recent hours, several names have already emerged as potential replacements.

The most surprising name is undoubtedly Thiago Motta, fresh off a complicated stint at Juventus that ended in March 2025. The Italian-Brazilian coach, who previously enjoyed great success at the helm of Bologna, could be a highly attractive option for Udinese. Of course, it remains to be seen whether the financial and strategic conditions are in place to reach an agreement.

The list of possible candidates also includes Paolo Zanetti, a coach who knows the dynamics of Serie A well and who could offer an alternative solution to try to turn around a team clearly in trouble.

Roberto D’Aversa should not be ruled out either; he is a coach accustomed to working in challenging situations and has extensive experience in the top flight. His name could come into consideration by management if they decide to go with a coach capable of quickly restoring balance to the team.