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"Football ruined my life", the confession of coach Spalletti

2025-07-25 18:58:00, Sport CNA

Luciano Spalletti has spoken extensively about his relationship with football and his recent experience in charge of the Italian national team. The coach analyzed not only the technical and organizational aspects of his time with Italy, but also the personal and emotional impact that this experience has had on his life.

Spalletti admitted that his passion for football had reached a level that had personal consequences. "Football destroyed my life. I loved it more than myself. I sacrificed the people I loved most for it," he said.

According to Spalletti, this unconditional love turned into a form of toxicity, which in the long run negatively affected life off the field of play.

His departure from the Italian national team has left a bitter mark. "It never goes away. It deprives me of sleep, it determines me in everything, because my mind is always there. Sometimes I feel like I'm happy, but then everything comes back to my mind," said Spalletti, referring to the Federation's decision to dismiss him. A

Despite this, the former Napoli coach did not express regret for accepting the important task on the Azzurri bench. "No, I do not regret it. Because the national team does not ask you, the national team calls you. It is not a choice you make logically. When the national team calls you, you have to fill your lungs and be ready.

"My mistake was at the beginning, when I pushed them too much in the area of belonging, of identity. I asked them to sing the anthem, to do a circle before every practice. I wanted to awaken the pride that I felt, but maybe it was too much for them."

"I also told the players not to be fooled by those who tell them they are not good, as they are at a high level. After the elimination from the European Championship, I believed we had found our way. But, as happens in the village, when you open a canal for water, sometimes it takes its own direction. And if you keep digging, you create an abyss. The wound hurts, even though it is in the healing phase," Spalletti declared.

The 66-year-old coach was sacked as Italy manager last month after a 3-0 defeat to Norway in qualifying.