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This article covers key details about Mancini returns as Italy coach after third straight World Cup miss.
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Roberto Mancini is the Azzurri’s new coach – the veteran who led the Azzurri to glory at Euro 2020 has once again been tasked with revitalising a team in emergencynearly three years after he stepped down to manage Saudi Arabia.
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Italian football federation leaderGiovanni Malagò announced Mancini as the new Italy coach on Tuesday, adding that Claudio Ranieri will become the new technical director after Paolo Maldini stepped down the previous day — just 16 days after being appointed.
“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,” Malagò said. “There will be a press conference the next daywith both Claudio Ranieri and Roberto Mancini.”
The 61-year-old Mancini led the Azzurri to the European Championship title in 2021 but shockingly resigned as Italy coach in August 2023, taking over Saudi Arabia’s national team two weeks later.
“It is clear that all the necessary assessments have been made,” Malagò statedwhen asked about Mancini’s sudden departure three years ago. “I certainly took it into consideration; I am aware of his recent apologies, and obviously, everyone has made the appropriate evaluations.”
The Italian national team is in emergencyafter failing for a third straight time to qualify for the World Cup, prompting the resignations of FIGC leaderGabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso in April, shortly after the playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Pirlo, Guardiola and Ancelotti dropped
The appointment comes after Andrea Pirlo was dropped as the leading candidate for the Italy job amid political concerns over a sponsorship deal with a Russian betting firm.
That led to the departures of Maldini and special adviser Leonardo by what Malagò stressed was “mutual consent”.
“Practically before we had even started, we were dealing with a unique situation,” Malagò added. “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.”
Earlier, prominent figures Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti had already turned down offers to coach the Azzurri. Former Italy coach Antonio Conte was also in contention.
Mancini’s first spell and record
Mancini’s first stint as Italy’s coach began right after the team’s qualification playoff loss to Sweden prevented them from qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
In the year-delayed Euro 2020, he revitalised the Azzurri by bringing flair and youth to a team that gained admirers across the continent and defeated England in a penalty shootout for the trophy at Wembley Stadium.
Mancini led Italy to a world record 37 games without a loss between 2018 and 2021.But in 2022, the Azzurri were eliminated from the World Cup once more due to a 1-0 home semifinal playoff loss to 67th-ranked North Macedonia.
Despite this, Mancini remained in his role until his unexpected resignation in August 2023.
Before leaving Saudi Arabia last month, he most recently worked as a coach at Al-Sadd in Qatar in 2024.
Mancini previously led Manchester City and Inter Milan to league victories in the past.
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