Roberto Mancini has officially returned for a second stint as the manager of the Italy national team, stepping into the role just a day after Andrea Pirlo removed himself from contention and technical director Paolo Maldini walked away. Italian Football Federation president Giovanni Malago explained the decision by stating that he firmly believed the best person to lead the squad as head coach was Roberto Mancini.
Management Shake-Up and High-Profile Resignations
The sudden leadership overhaul follows considerable turmoil within the federation. Paolo Maldini, who had only been appointed to his position two weeks prior, alongside adviser Leonardo, handed in their resignations in protest after the governing body opted against appointing Andrea Pirlo. To fill the crucial vacancy left by Paolo Maldini, Claudio Ranieri has been brought in as the new technical director. Claudio Ranieri previously orchestrated one of the greatest shocks in sports history by guiding Leicester City to the Premier League title during the 2015-16 season.
Roberto Mancini Past Successes and World Cup Drought
Aged 61 and inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2015, Roberto Mancini previously managed the national side from 2018 until 2023. During that initial tenure, he famously led the Azzurri to glory at Euro 2020 by defeating England in the final at Wembley. Despite those major continental triumphs, the national team has notably struggled on the global stage, failing to feature at a World Cup finals tournament since 2014. Following the departure of Gennaro Gattuso in April after the team missed out on qualifying for a third successive World Cup, Under-21 manager Silvio Baldini had stepped in on a temporary basis.
Recent Stints and Upcoming Fixtures
Before taking up his previous Italy job in 2018, Roberto Mancini spent time managing Galatasaray and Zenit St Petersburg. More recently, his managerial career took him to Al Sadd, where although they won the Qatar Stars League, they fell short of reaching the final four of the AFC Champions League Elite and suffered defeat in the Qatar Cup final. Roberto Mancini subsequently left his role with Al Sadd in June. The newly reappointed manager faces an immediate test as Italy prepares to kick off their UEFA Nations League campaign on 25 September at home against Belgium, followed by an away fixture against Turkey three days later.
