Udinese reflecting on Runjaic future after 3-0 Lecce defeat
UDINE, ITALY - OCTOBER 18: Kosta Runjaic, Udinese manager, looks on during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and US Lecce at Stadio Friuli on October 18, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
Reports in Italy indicate that Udinese are reflecting on Kosta Runjaic’s future in the role of head coach after overseeing five consecutive defeats in Serie A and falling to a 3-0 defeat at home against Lecce on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Kiolona Gaspar, Konan N’Dri and Jamil Siebert handed Lecce a 3-0 victory at the Stadio Friuli, which leaves Udinese on just four points after seven matches of the 2026-27 season and at risk of dropping into the relegation zone by the end of the weekend.
Udinese had also fallen to defeats against Torino, Cagliari, Inter and Lazio in the weeks leading up to the Lecce loss.
This run of results leaves Runjaic in an uncomfortable position and at risk of losing his job.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio almost immediately after the 3-0 defeat against Lecce, Udinese are making their evaluations on Runjaic’s future as head coach.
The club is not expected to make any quickfire decisions immediately after the Lecce defeat, but discussions over the head coach’s future are now underway.
Runjaic has served as head coach of Udinese since the start of the 2024-25 season, overseeing a 12th-place finish in his first season in charge and a 10th-place finish last term.
According to reports from TMW, if Runjaic is to lose his job in the near future, there are already two potential candidates in mind in the form of Thiago Motta and Paolo Zanetti.
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