Roberto Mancini has returned as Italy’s head coach for a second spell, with the mission of rebuilding the Azzurri after they failed to qualify for the last three FIFA World Cups.
The appointment was confirmed on Tuesday, July 28, by Italian football federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malago, who also announced that Claudio Ranieri has replaced Paolo Maldini as the national team’s technical director.
“Today we have a new coach and a new technical director,” Malago told reporters, adding that Mancini and Ranieri would be officially unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday, July 29.
“I felt that the person who should be and become the Italian national football team’s head coach was Roberto Mancini, for a whole series of considerations for which, as always, I honestly take responsibility.”
Mancini replaces Gennaro Gattuso, who stepped down after Italy’s World Cup qualification play-off final defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March.
The 61-year-old previously managed Italy from 2018 to 2023, leading the national team to victory at Euro 2020 and overseeing a record 37-match unbeaten run.
He was reportedly chosen ahead of former Italy boss Antonio Conte, while Andrea Pirlo, who had also been linked with the role, confirmed on Monday that he was no longer in contention.
Reports had suggested that former technical director Paolo Maldini threatened to resign if either Mancini or Conte was appointed, preferring former Italy midfielder Thiago Motta. Ranieri has now taken over the technical director position.
Mancini’s first match since returning will be a UEFA Nations League clash against Belgium on September 25 in a group that also features Turkey and France.
“The new coach will have two training sessions to prepare for the first game,” Malago said.
“Since Italy lost the play-off to Bosnia, I don’t think we gave passports to Lamine Yamal, (Kylian) Mbappe and (Harry) Kane… So are we being serious here?
“We must try to do the best with what we have and also safeguard our European ranking in a group against teams that were all at the World Cup—Turkey, Belgium and France. If you want to be objective and serious, finishing fourth in that group is logical.”
Mancini’s return has divided opinion following his surprise resignation as Italy coach in 2023 to take charge of Saudi Arabia, a move that reportedly strained his relationship with senior FIGC officials while Italy were fighting to qualify for Euro 2024.
He left the Saudi national team after 14 months before taking over Qatari club Al-Sadd on a two-year contract last November.
Now back in charge of the Azzurri, Mancini will be aiming to restore Italy’s place among football’s elite.
The four-time world champions have not featured at a FIFA World Cup since 2014 and have not reached the knockout stage since winning the tournament in 2006. Their only major success in that period came under Mancini, who guided them to the Euro 2020 title, while their European crown ended with a last-16 exit to Switzerland under Luciano Spalletti at Euro 2024.
At club level, Mancini won three successive Serie A titles with Inter Milan between 2005 and 2008 before guiding Manchester City to their first English top-flight title in 44 years with their dramatic Premier League triumph in the 2011-12 season.
