Azzurri Comeback! Roberto Mancini Returns as Italy Head Coach!
Roberto Mancini has been reappointed as Italy's manager, returning to the helm after Andrea Pirlo withdrew and Paolo Maldini resigned. Mancini, who previously led Italy to Euro 2020 victory but also oversaw a World Cup qualification failure, is tasked with revitalizing the team ahead of their Nations League campaign. Claudio Ranieri joins as the new technical director.
Roberto Mancini has been reappointed as the manager of Italy, a decision made swiftly following a series of significant events within the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). His return comes just one day after Andrea Pirlo, who was widely considered the frontrunner for the position, publicly withdrew his candidacy. Simultaneously, Paolo Maldini, who had only been appointed as technical director two weeks prior, resigned from his post, with adviser Leonardo also stepping down due to the decision not to appoint Pirlo.
The managerial position became vacant in April when Gennaro Gattuso departed by mutual consent after Italy's failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup finals. Italy has not participated in a World Cup since 2014, and the recent playoff failure under Gattuso underscored the need for a change. FIGC president Giovanni Malago expressed confidence in the choice, stating, “I believed that the best person to become head coach was Roberto Mancini.” Before Pirlo's consideration, the FIGC had also reportedly approached Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti for the role.
Claudio Ranieri, known for leading Leicester City to their historic 2015-16 Premier League title, has been appointed to replace Maldini as the new technical director. This swift reshuffling of key personnel highlights the urgency within Italian football to address its recent struggles.
Mancini, 61, is no stranger to the Italy national team, having previously managed them from 2018 to August 2023. During his first tenure, he achieved remarkable success, guiding Italy to a Euro 2020 victory and establishing a world-record 37-match unbeaten run. However, his resignation in August 2023 was prompted by the team's failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, a critical setback. Under-21 boss Silvio Baldini had temporarily filled the managerial void.
Beyond his national team roles, Mancini boasts an illustrious club management career. As a former Italy and Sampdoria midfielder, he transitioned to coaching, leading Manchester City to their inaugural Premier League title in 2012. He also secured three Serie A titles with Inter Milan and won Coppa Italia trophies with both Inter and Lazio. His extensive experience includes stints with Galatasaray, Zenit St Petersburg, the Saudi Arabia national team, and Qatari club Al Sadd, where he won the Stars League before leaving in June. Italy's immediate focus under Mancini will be their upcoming Nations League campaign, which begins on 25 September at home against Belgium, followed by a match against Turkey three days later.