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Roberto Mancini is returning as Italy national team coach after a difficult selection process, the national federation FIGC said on Tuesday.
FIGC president Giovanni Malagò made the announcement after a top level FIGC meeting in Rome.
He said that Mancini and Claudio Ranieri, who was named new technical director, would be officially presented at a news conference on Wednesday.
Mancini, 61, coached the Azzurri 2018-2023 and led them to the Euro 2021 title. His exit in 2023 to coach Saudi Arabia for an alleged huge salary led to some bad blood in Italy. He held that position for only one year.
Mancini won three Serie A titles at the helm of Inter Milan, the Premier League with Manchester City and the league in Qatar with his last club, Al-Sadd.
Much-travelled former coach Ranieri famously led Leicester City to the 2016 Premier League title and was last in charge of Roma.
Mancini's first games will be four Nations League matches between September 25 and October five against France, Belgium and Turkey (twice).
The appointment of a new coach proved difficult as Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guadiola declined the job and Andrea Pirlo was dropped as candidate over links to Russia.
“Time was running out and I felt that Roberto Mancini was the right person for the job as head coach,” Malagò said.
Malagò also confirmed that he opposed an appointment of the 2006 World Cup winning midfielder Pirlo.
The Pirlo events prompted technical director Paolo Madini and advisor Leonardo to step down after just over two weeks on the job.
The 2006 success marked Italy's fourth World Cup title but they have not qualified for the last three editions.
The latest failure in March led to the resignation of coach Gennaro Gattuso, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and team coordinator Gianluigi Buffon.
Former Italian Olympic Committee president and Milan/Cortina 2026 Winter Games chief organizer Malagò was elected FIGC president in June.
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FIGC president Giovanni Malagò made the announcement after a top level FIGC meeting in Rome.
He said that Mancini and Claudio Ranieri, who was named new technical director, would be officially presented at a news conference on Wednesday.
Mancini, 61, coached the Azzurri 2018-2023 and led them to the Euro 2021 title. His exit in 2023 to coach Saudi Arabia for an alleged huge salary led to some bad blood in Italy. He held that position for only one year.
Mancini won three Serie A titles at the helm of Inter Milan, the Premier League with Manchester City and the league in Qatar with his last club, Al-Sadd.
Much-travelled former coach Ranieri famously led Leicester City to the 2016 Premier League title and was last in charge of Roma.
Mancini's first games will be four Nations League matches between September 25 and October five against France, Belgium and Turkey (twice).
The appointment of a new coach proved difficult as Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guadiola declined the job and Andrea Pirlo was dropped as candidate over links to Russia.
“Time was running out and I felt that Roberto Mancini was the right person for the job as head coach,” Malagò said.
Malagò also confirmed that he opposed an appointment of the 2006 World Cup winning midfielder Pirlo.
The Pirlo events prompted technical director Paolo Madini and advisor Leonardo to step down after just over two weeks on the job.
The 2006 success marked Italy's fourth World Cup title but they have not qualified for the last three editions.
The latest failure in March led to the resignation of coach Gennaro Gattuso, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and team coordinator Gianluigi Buffon.
Former Italian Olympic Committee president and Milan/Cortina 2026 Winter Games chief organizer Malagò was elected FIGC president in June.
Continue reading...
