Roberto Mancini has been confirmed as Italy’s senior national team coach for the second time, a decision taken after former manager Gennaro Gattuso departed in April following a failed World Cup qualification run. The choice came promptly after the FIGC president, Giovanni Málago, publicly endorsed Mancini following Andrea Pirlo’s unexpected withdrawal caused by allegations of his ties to a Russian betting company. Paolo Maldini, who had been appointed as technical director two weeks earlier, resigned along with adviser Leonardo after the programme was stalled.
Mancini’s remark that he believed himself to be the optimal replacement for the national side underscored the federation’s confidence in his experience and achievements. His previous spell from 2018 to 2023 saw Italy win Euro 2020, defeating England in the final at Wembley, and record a world‑record 37‑game unbeaten run. Despite these successes, Italy failed to secure a spot at the 2022 World Cup, losing to North Macedonia in a play‑off, an outcome that precipitated his resignation in August 2023.
Subsequently, Claudio Ranieri, known for leading Leicester City to the 2016 Premier League title, will assume the role of technical director, replacing Maldini. Maldini himself had stepped in only a fortnight after his appointment and resigned following the Pirlo decision, alongside advisor Leonardo.
Mancini’s résumé spans a storied playing career and numerous managerial stops. He captained the Italian side while playing for Sampdoria, then guided Manchester City to their inaugural Premier League title in 2012, and achieved domestic double victories with both Lazio and Inter Milan. He also had spells at Galatasaray and Zenit St Petersburg before taking the national team’s reins again in 2018. After leaving Italy, he took brief stints with the Saudi Arabian national side and then managed Al Sadd in Qatar, winning the Qatar Stars League but failing to progress past the quarter‑finals in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Italy’s upcoming international fixtures will commence with a Nations League match against Belgium on 25 September, followed by a trip to Turkey. As the squad prepares, the federation faces a task of restoring consistency, given the country’s absence from the World Cup finals since 2014, alongside the ambitions set by Mancini’s previous European triumphs.
