Udinese: Runjaic Has Already Found a Job Elsewhere

Kosta Runjaic won’t be out of work for long: the German coach, who was fired by Udinese after a long losing streak in Serie A, is ready to immediately embark on a new challenge.

The now-former Udinese coach is reportedly at the top of the list of candidates to become the new head coach of the Polish national team, according to media reports from the Eastern European country. Runjaic is expected to take over for current head coach Jan Urban.

The coach leaves Udinese on good terms, following a very poor start to the season that has left the Friuli-based club in third-to-last place with 5 points. Runjaic is well known in Poland, where he coached Legia Warsaw from 2022 to 2024, winning a Polish Cup and a Super Cup.

The Friuli club’s decision came after a crushing 5-2 home loss to Roma, their seventh defeat in the first ten league matches. In front of a frustrated crowd—which booed both during the first half and at the end of the match—the Giallorossi were already up 4-0 after 37 minutes thanks to goals by Cristante, Rodrigo Mora, Malen, and Ndicka. In the second half, the Bianconeri scored through Zaniolo and Palma, before Ghilardi sealed the victory for the visitors.

Their recent run of form had been brutal: just one point in their last eight matches, with six straight losses—including a 2-0 defeat to Milan—and only a 0-0 draw on the road against Parma as a faint glimmer of hope. Earlier this week, the club had reaffirmed its confidence in Runjaic, whose contract expires in June, and Gino Pozzo’s stance was to avoid a mid-season coaching change. However, the loss to Roma has changed the situation. On the Friuli front, according to Sky, the frontrunner to take over is Paolo Zanetti. The new coach will face an important relegation battle right away, next Friday against Venezia.