Udinese sacked head coach Kosta Runjaić and appointed Paolo Zanetti as his successor..

Udinese announced on their official website on Monday that head coach Kosta Runjaić has been sacked, with Paolo Zanetti appointed as his successor.

According to the club's official statement, Runjaić’s assistant coaches, Przemysław Małecki and Aleksandar Trukan, have also been relieved of their duties.

Furthermore, Zanetti has signed a short-term contract with the club that runs until the end of the current season, with the possibility of an extension depending on his performance.

Udinese had gone eight consecutive matches without a win since defeating Monza on August 29, leaving Runjaić’s position increasingly precarious.

About Kosta Runjaić

The 55-year-old Kosta Runjaić was born on June 4, 1971 in Vienna, Austria. He played at the amateur level during his own playing career. He holds citizenship in Austria, Germany, and Serbia.

After retiring as a player, Runjaić became the head coach of the Kaiserslautern reserve team in 2004. He subsequently managed several clubs, including Darmstadt, MSV Duisburg, 1860 Munich, Pogoń Szczecin, and Legia Warsaw.

In the summer of 2024, Runjaić was appointed as the new Udinese head coach.

During his tenure with I Zebrette, Runjaić oversaw 94 matches across all competitions, achieving 33 wins, 18 draws, and 43 losses, with a win percentage of 35.11%. 

About Paolo Zanetti

The 43-year-old Paolo Zanetti was born on December 16, 1982, in Valdagno, near Vicenza. He played for several clubs, including Empoli, Torino, and Atalanta. During his playing career, he operated as a defensive midfielder and earned five caps for the Italy U21s national team.

Following his retirement, he began his coaching career at the age of 33, starting with the Reggiana U18s youth team. In the 2017/18 season, he took charge of his first professional club, Südtirol. After two successful seasons in Bolzano, he was invited to manage his former club, Ascoli.

Zanetti’s breakthrough season came in 2020/21, when he led Venezia to promotion to Serie A, ending a 19-year absence from the top flight.

He remained at the helm for the following season before moving on to Empoli, where he guided the club to a mid-table finish in the 2022/23 season.

Most recently, he served as the head coach of Hellas Verona in Serie A, leading the club to a 14th-place finish in the 2024/25 season, with his tenure concluding in February 2026.

Image source: Internet / Udinese Official Website