Udinese Appoints Paolo Zanetti as New Head Coach Following Runjaic’s Dismissal
Udinese has officially named Paolo Zanetti as their new head coach, mere hours after parting ways with Kosta Runjaic.
The 43-year-old coach has signed a contract that will run until June 30, 2027, in accordance with the strict conditions set by the club for Runjaic’s successor.
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“Udinese Calcio is delighted to announce that Paolo Zanetti has been appointed as the new head coach of the first team, on a contract running until 30 June 2027,” read a club statement.
Zanetti has been without a job since his dismissal from Verona in February. He takes over a struggling team, as Udinese currently sits with just five points after ten games and is on an eight-match winless streak, highlighted by Saturday’s heavy 5-2 loss to Roma, which led to Runjaic’s exit.
TURIN, ITALY – DECEMBER 02: Kosta Runjaic looks on prior to the Serie C match between Ternana Calcio and Juventus Next Gen at Allianz Stadium on December 02, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
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Zanetti’s First Match at Udinese Against Former Team
Zanetti’s debut on the sidelines will hold special significance as he faces his former club in a crucial relegation battle against bottom-placed Venezia this Friday.
Udinese’s announcement emphasized that Zanetti’s “breakthrough season came in 2020/21, when he secured Venezia’s promotion to Serie A for the first time in 19 years.” He had a one-season stay in the top flight before moving on to coach Empoli and Verona, leading the latter team to a “14th place finish in 2024/25.”
“Now Paolo Zanetti is ready to embark on a new challenge at Udinese,” the club noted. “He will take his first training session with the team on Tuesday afternoon and will be introduced to the media on Wednesday at 15:00.”
