Mancini Returns to Lead Italy Amid National Team Turmoil
Qwenews.com – Italian football faces yet another turning point as Roberto Mancini has been appointed to steer the national team through its current difficulties. The announcement came on Tuesday from FIGC president Giovanni Malagò, who confirmed the 61-year-old’s return to the role he previously held from 2018 until August 2023.
This appointment arrives during a period of significant upheaval for Italian soccer. The Azzurri have now failed to reach the World Cup for three consecutive tournaments, a situation that triggered the resignation of both FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and head coach Gennaro Gattuso in April following their playoff elimination by Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A Leadership Shake-Up
Alongside Mancini’s hiring, Claudio Ranieri has been named technical director. The legendary manager stepped into this position after Paolo Maldini departed just 16 days after his own appointment. Malagò explained the situation with characteristic diplomacy:
Practically before we had even started, we were dealing with a unique situation. There was no conflict. With utmost respect, like in the best families, there was a calm discussion and a clear and serene consensus that it was best to go our separate ways.
The leadership changes followed the dropping of Andrea Pirlo as the leading candidate for the managerial position. Political concerns emerged regarding a sponsorship arrangement with a Russian betting company, prompting Maldini and special adviser Leonardo to leave by mutual consent.
Mancini’s Track Record
Mancini’s first tenure with the national team proved highly successful. Following Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup after losing to Sweden in a playoff, he transformed the squad with youthful energy and attacking flair. His side captured European Championship glory in the delayed Euro 2020 tournament, defeating England at Wembley Stadium via penalty shootout.
Between 2018 and 2021, Italy achieved a world-record 37-match unbeaten streak under his guidance. However, disappointment followed in 2022 when a 1-0 home playoff defeat to 67th-ranked North Macedonia meant another World Cup absence. Despite this setback, Mancini remained in charge until his surprising resignation in August 2023, shortly after taking the helm at Saudi Arabia’s national team.
Time was running out … I believed the person who should become the new coach of Italy is Roberto Mancini, for a whole list of reasons.
Since leaving Italy, Mancini has managed Saudi Arabia and most recently Al-Sadd in Qatar before departing last month. He also previously secured league championships with both Inter Milan and Manchester City.
Context and Considerations
Malagò addressed questions about Mancini’s previous departure, noting that all relevant factors had been weighed:
It is clear that all the necessary assessments have been made. I certainly took it into consideration; I am aware of his recent apologies, and obviously, everyone has made the appropriate evaluations.
Luciano Spalletti had replaced Mancini in 2023 but was dismissed two years later after Italy’s opening World Cup qualifier loss to Norway. Meanwhile, Ranieri—who famously guided Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2016—had initially declined an offer to manage the Azzurri, leading to Gattuso’s appointment instead. The 74-year-old’s most recent position was as special adviser at AS Roma, where he had helped resolve a crisis before leaving in April following tensions with coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
Among those who rejected offers to join the Italian setup were Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, while former Italy manager Antonio Conte remained in contention.
Looking Ahead
Italy’s next fixtures arrive in September and October, when they will compete against Belgium, Turkey, and France in the UEFA Nations League. Malagò outlined the preparation timeline:
The new coach will have two training sessions to prepare for the first game. And since the game against Bosnia, I don’t think we have given passports to Lamine Yamal, (Kylian) Mbappé and (Harry) Kane. Now we have to do the best with what we have, knowing that we are playing in a group with three teams that went to the World Cup, two of which finished in the last eight.
A joint press conference featuring both Mancini and Ranieri is scheduled for tomorrow as Italian football attempts to emerge from its current crisis.
