Udinese, Runjaic at risk of sacking: D'Aversa and Zanetti are main candidates

Udinese manager Runjaic's job is under threat after a 5-2 home defeat to Roma; D'Aversa and Zanetti are the leading candidates to replace him.

Udinese's poor season took another turn for the worse with a 5-2 home defeat to Roma, putting manager Kosta Runjaic's position in serious doubt. The club sits second-to-last with just 5 points from 10 matches (one win, two draws, seven losses). In his post-match press conference, Runjaic acknowledged the defensive failings—"our first half was embarrassing defensively, we conceded goals too easily"—but suggested the decision on his future rests with the club rather than himself: "I know we can change the situation from the next game, but it's not up to me to decide."

Should Udinese move to sack the German manager, two names are being considered: Roberto D'Aversa, who managed Torino to a 12th-place finish last season, and Paolo Zanetti, whose most recent Serie A role ended with his dismissal from Hellas Verona in February.