Roberto Mancini has agreed to a second term as Italy head coach, as confirmed by Giovanni Malagò, president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). This announcement also includes Claudio Ranieri taking on the role of technical director.
Mancini previously managed the national team from 2018 to 2023. During his first tenure, he guided Italy to victory in the European Championship in 2021, securing the title with a penalty shootout win against England at Wembley. However, the team did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup and experienced a slow start to the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. In total, Mancini oversaw 58 matches for Italy during his initial period.
At club level, Mancini’s career includes managing Inter, Fiorentina, and Manchester City. He spent three years with Manchester City, leading them to their first Premier League title in the 2011-12 season. Malagò expressed his belief that Mancini was the most suitable candidate for the head coach position.
Mancini’s return follows the departure of Gennaro Gattuso, who left the head coach role in April after Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. Mancini himself had resigned from the Italy job in 2023 under circumstances that included a reported disagreement with Malagò’s predecessor, Gabriele Gravina, regarding the national team’s setup. Following his resignation, Mancini took on a coaching role with Saudi Arabia and later managed Qatari side Al-Sadd for eight months before his recent departure.
New Technical Director Appointed
Claudio Ranieri has been appointed as the new technical director, replacing Paolo Maldini. Ranieri, who is 74 years old, is known for leading Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2016. His responsibilities will include overseeing technical operations and the development of elite football across Italy‘s national team structures.
Malagò emphasised the importance of having a shared vision for the coaching decision, stating, "I needed someone with whom I could share the decision on the coach, because without that shared view my reasoning would have carried little weight." Ranieri has assured Malagò of his commitment to the role.
The appointments come after a period of significant changes within the FIGC. The executive team appointed by Malagò after his election in June resigned when their initial choice for head coach, Andrea Pirlo, did not receive approval. Pirlo’s candidacy was withdrawn due to his ties to a Russian betting firm, where he held a global ambassador role.
Paolo Maldini, the former FIGC technical director, and his adviser, Leonardo, resigned from their positions on Monday after Pirlo’s appointment was blocked. Maldini and Leonardo had been in their roles for only 17 days. Malagò noted that while there was not a shared vision on Mancini with Maldini, both parties were clear and honest in their views.
Previous Candidates and Departures
Before Mancini’s appointment, other prominent figures were considered for the head coach position. Pep Guardiola was reportedly the association’s first choice but declined the offer last month. Carlo Ancelotti, the current head coach of Brazil, was also approached but rejected the advances of the Italian FA. Antonio Conte was another candidate, having left Napoli at the end of the last season.
Fabio Capello, in an interview, expressed his opinion that Conte should have been given the job over Mancini, though he clarified he was not questioning Mancini’s coaching ability. Giorgio Chiellini had also ruled himself out of replacing Maldini as technical director, stating his intention to remain as chief club affairs officer at Juventus.
Mancini is scheduled to be formally unveiled on Wednesday. His first matches in charge will be against Belgium in the UEFA Nations League on September 25, followed by an away fixture against Turkiye three days later. Italy will then face France and Turkiye in early October, with another match against France and a trip to Belgium scheduled for November.
The primary objective for Mancini’s second term is to guide Italy to the 2028 European Championship, which will be co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland. Following this, the focus will shift to the 2030 World Cup, as Italy aims to return to the tournament after not participating since 2014 in Brazil.
Source: theguardian.com
Daniel Fairbrother is the Senior Football Correspondent at Latest News UK, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with over a decade of reporting experience. He spent eight years on the football desk of a Yorkshire daily before moving into national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Leeds, he watches non-league football and runs a five-a-side league. “The best football stories are won in the week, not on the whistle.”