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FILE PHOTO - Italy coach Roberto Mancini pictured during the 2022 UEFA Nations League A3 soccer match between Germany and Italy at Borussia-Park. Marius Becker/dpa
Roberto Mancini is set to return as Italy national team coach, news reports said on Tuesday, citing national federation FIGC president Giovanni Malagò.
La Gazzetta dello Sport and the ANSA news agency said that Malagò made the announcement at a top level FIGC meeting in Rome.
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.
The reports also said that much-travelled former coach Claudio Ranieri is to become FIGC technical director. Ranieri famously coached Leicester City to the 2016 Premier League title and was last in charge of Roma.
The appointment of a new coach proved difficult as Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guadiola, last in charge of City, declined the job.
Andrea Pirlo was dropped as candidate over links to Russia, with Malagò reportedly vetoing the appointment of the 2006 World Cup winning midfielder.
The Pirlo events prompted technical director Paolo Madini and advisor Leonardo to step down after a mere two weeks.
Changes came after Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup a third time in a row 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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