After reading Paolo di Canio’s thoughts on speculation linking him with Luciano Spalletti’s Roma job, I think it is pretty safe to rule the former Lazio forward out of the running.

Following a winless start to the season which has seen Roma pick up one just point from their opening two Serie A games before their embarrassing UEFA Champions League defeat to Romanian minnows FC Cluj, the knives are already being sharpened for Spalletti.  

One name being mentioned in the Italian press as a possible replacement for the bald-headed coach is former West Ham United ace di Canio, but the die-hard Lazio fan who spent seven seasons with Biancocelesti during two spells, would seemingly rather stick pins in his eyes.

“No, never, even in another life it is unthinkable,” di Canio said when the idea of succeeding Spalletti was put to him. “I know that a coach should not say certain things, you should be professional and I do not want to show a lack of respect, but there are some limits which I can never go beyond.”

You have to admire di Canio for his honesty and obvious love for his club. I suppose the thought of him managing Roma would be akin to that of Gary Neville succeeding Rafael Benitez as Liverpool boss, or perhaps Sol Campbell heading back to Tottenham Hotspur as Juande Ramos’ number two.