- Roberto Mancini has been appointed Italy manager for a second time, following the departure of Gennaro Gattuso in April after Italy failed to qualify for a third World Cup.
- Giovanni Malago announced Mancini's appointment at a FIGC board meeting, stating, “I believed that the best person to become head coach was Roberto Mancini.”
- Mancini previously managed Italy from 2018 until 2023 and won Euro 2020, beating England in the final at Wembley.
- Mancini returns for a second spell with the national team, having previously quit due to a disagreement with Malago's predecessor over the national team set-up.
- His appointment comes after Andrea Pirlo ruled himself out of the running for the job and technical director Paolo Maldini resigned.
Roberto Mancini has been appointed as Italy's head coach for a second time, following the departure of Gennaro Gattuso after Italy's failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.1
FIGC president Giovanni Malago expressed confidence in Mancini, stating, "I believed that the best person to become head coach was Roberto Mancini." Mancini, 61, previously led the national team from 2018 to 2023, achieving notable success by winning Euro 2020 against England at Wembley.23
His return comes amid a backdrop of controversy, as he resigned three years ago due to disagreements with former FIGC president Gabriele Gravina regarding the national team setup. Malago emphasized the importance of Mancini's leadership, saying, "I thought it right that Roberto Mancini should become the national team’s coach, for a whole series of reasons."
Mancini's first challenge will be the Nations League campaign, starting on September 25 against Belgium, followed by a match against Turkey. His appointment was confirmed during a FIGC board meeting, marking a significant moment for Italian football as they seek to rebuild after recent disappointments.
“Mancini, who previously led Italy to victory in Euro 2020, replaces Gennaro Gattuso, who left after Italy's World Cup qualification failure. His return comes amid significant changes in the coaching staff, including Claudio Ranieri's appointment as technical director.”
The Guardian
BBC
