Udinese are weighing a quick coaching change after the 5-2 home defeat to AS Roma, with Kosta Runjaic under serious pressure and Paolo Zanetti the leading replacement candidate if the club acts immediately. Udinese sit second-to-last on 5 points from 10 matches, with one win, two draws and seven defeats.
Runjaic's position after the Roma collapse
Runjaic did not hide how bad the night looked. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia after the match, he said: “Our first half was embarrassing defensively. We conceded goals far too easily. An off night, now we think about preparing the next match in Venezia.”
He also accepted that the situation could swing quickly, saying: “I know very well that we can change the situation already from the next game, but it is not up to me to decide it.” That leaves the decision with the club, not the coach.
The pressure is not coming from one ugly result alone. Udinese have lost 7 of their first 10 league matches and have conceded 23 goals, which is a poor enough return to make the Roma collapse feel like part of a larger problem rather than an isolated blip.
The replacement picture and Friday's deadline
Sky Sport Italia named Roberto D'Aversa and Paolo Zanetti as the main candidates to replace Runjaic. TuttoMercatoWeb says Zanetti remains in the running while D'Aversa's chances are falling, and Vladimir Petkovic has also emerged as a surprise option.
There is also a practical issue. Udinese's next match is away to Venezia on Friday, 6 November 2026, so the club does not have much time if it wants a new coach in place for that game. Football Italia reported that a decision was expected this afternoon, while Sky Sport Italia has been more cautious and said a dismissal is possible but not yet certain.
That leaves the situation in a narrow band. Udinese have not confirmed any change, but the numbers and the schedule both point the same way, and Zanetti is now the name most closely linked with the job.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
