Date of birth: 7 March 1959
Nationality: Italian
Playing career: AC Entella Chiavari 1914, Spezia Calcio 1906, FC Esperia Viareggio, Empoli FC
Coaching career: Empoli FC, UC Sampdoria, Venezia Calcio, Udinese Calcio (twice), Ancona Calcio, AS Roma, FC Zenit St Petersburg

• An industrious midfielder in his playing days, he started his coaching career in 1993/94 with former club Empoli and enjoyed immediate success with successive promotions.

• After a good first campaign in the top flight, Spalletti left to join Sampdoria but was sacked 28 games into the 1998/99 season.

• Had brief stays at Venezia, Udinese and Ancona but returned to Udinese in summer 2002, steering them to sixth and seventh-placed finishes before guiding them into the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 2004/05. This success persuaded Roma to approach Spalletti, and he signed a two-year contract.

• In 2005/06 Roma set a record of consecutive Serie A wins (11) and finished fifth, with Spalletti subsequently named Serie A coach of the year. Guided the Giallorossi to Coppa Italia success in 2007 and 2008 and two UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

• After a difficult 2008/09, Spalletti resigned in September 2009, joining Zenit three months later on a three-year deal. Soon after he delivered their first Russian Cup in 11 years, and with his side going a record 23 games unbeaten from the start of the season, took the league title at the end of 2010, retaining it in the transitional 2011/12 campaign.