Mancini’s Return to the Azzurri

By Kwame Ofori — 28 July 2026 — 3 min read

Mancini’s Return to the Azzurri

Roberto Mancini has been appointed as the head coach of the Italy national team for a second time. This announcement was made by Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malagò. Mancini previously managed Italy from 2018 until 2023, a period during which he led the team to victory in Euro 2020, defeating England in the final held at Wembley. His prior tenure also saw the Azzurri achieve an unbeaten run of 37 games.

Mancini’s return follows a period of significant change within the Italian national football setup. He replaces Gennaro Gattuso, who departed his role as Italy boss in April after the team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. Mancini himself resigned from his previous Italy post in 2023.

Before rejoining Italy, Mancini had a brief spell with the Saudi Arabia national team and then managed Qatari side Al Sadd. With Al Sadd, he secured the Qatar Stars League title, though the team did not advance to the final four of the AFC Champions League Elite and lost in the Qatar Cup final. Mancini left Al Sadd.

Leadership Changes and Controversies

The decision to re-appoint Mancini comes after a series of events, including the withdrawal of Andrea Pirlo as a candidate for the head coach position. Pirlo had initially appeared set to take over but pulled out due to controversy surrounding his connections to a Russian betting company. This development led to the resignations of technical director Paolo Maldini and adviser Leonardo, who had been appointed only two weeks prior.

FIGC president Malagò stated his belief that Mancini was the most suitable person for the head coach role. Prior to Pirlo, the FIGC had also approached Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti regarding the Italy job.

In addition to Mancini’s appointment, Claudio Ranieri will take over as the new technical director, replacing Maldini. Ranieri, who guided Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2015-16, will oversee technical operations and elite football development across Italy’s national team structures. Malagò emphasized the importance of having a shared vision with the technical director for decisions regarding the coach.

Mancini’s Coaching History

Mancini’s career as a manager includes notable successes at club level. He led Manchester City to their first Premier League title in 2012. His coaching experience also extends to Lazio and Inter Milan, where he won the Coppa Italia with Inter and secured three Serie A titles with Inter. He also managed Galatasaray and Zenit St Petersburg.

Italy’s absence from the World Cup finals since 2014 highlights the challenges facing the national team. The recent failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, after a play-off loss to North Macedonia, and another World Cup play-off failure earlier this year, underscored the need for change. Following Gattuso’s departure, Under-21 manager Silvio Baldini temporarily took charge.

The national team is set to begin its Nations League campaign on September 25, with a home match against Belgium, followed by an away fixture against Turkey three days later.

Source: bbc.co.uk