Roberto Mancini has been appointed head coach of the Italy national team for a second spell, as the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) seeks to revive the Azzurri after they failed to qualify for the last three FIFA World Cups.
The appointment was announced on Tuesday by FIGC President Giovanni Malagò, who also confirmed that Claudio Ranieri has been named the national team’s new technical director, replacing Paolo Maldini.
“Today we have a new coach and a new technical director,” Malagò told reporters, adding that Mancini and Ranieri would be officially unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday.
“I felt that the person who should become the Italian national football team’s head coach was Roberto Mancini, for a whole series of considerations for which, as always, I honestly take responsibility,” he said.
Mancini replaces Gennaro Gattuso, who stepped down after Italy’s defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup qualification play-off final in March.
The 61-year-old previously managed Italy from 2018 to 2023, leading the Azzurri to the UEFA Euro 2020 title and overseeing a national record 37-match unbeaten run.
According to reports, Mancini was chosen ahead of former Italy coach Antonio Conte, while Andrea Pirlo, who had also been linked with the role, announced earlier this week that he was no longer in contention.
Reports also claimed that former technical director Paolo Maldini had opposed the appointments of Mancini and Conte, preferring former Italy midfielder Thiago Motta for the position. Ranieri has now assumed the technical director’s role.
Mancini’s first match since returning will be a UEFA Nations League clash against Belgium on September 25. Italy have been drawn in a challenging group alongside Belgium, France and Turkey.
Malagò urged supporters to remain realistic about expectations, noting the quality of Italy’s opponents.
“The new coach will have only two training sessions to prepare for the first game. We must try to do the best with what we have and also protect our European ranking. If you want to be objective and serious, finishing fourth in that group is logical,” he said.
Mancini’s return has divided opinion after his abrupt resignation as Italy coach in 2023 to take over the Saudi Arabia national team, a move that reportedly strained his relationship with senior FIGC officials while Italy were pursuing qualification for Euro 2024.
He left the Saudi job after 14 months before joining Qatari club Al Sadd on a two-year contract last November.
Now back in charge of the four-time world champions, Mancini faces the task of restoring Italy’s place among football’s elite.
Italy have not appeared at a FIFA World Cup since 2014 and have not reached the tournament’s knockout stage since winning the title in 2006. Their only major international success during that period came with their Euro 2020 triumph under Mancini, while their title defence at Euro 2024 ended in a round-of-16 defeat to Switzerland.
At club level, Mancini won three consecutive Serie A titles with Inter Milan between 2005 and 2008 before guiding Manchester City to their first English top-flight title in 44 years with the dramatic Premier League triumph in the 2011–12 season.