Roberto Mancini will return as Italy head coach, three years after bringing his first spell in charge of the Azzurri to an unexpected end.
Fabrizio Romano first reported that the 61-year-old had agreed to lead the national team for a second time, giving the appointment his customary “here we go” confirmation.
FIGC president Giovanni Malago subsequently confirmed Mancini’s return during a Federal Council meeting.
Mancini will succeed Gennaro Gattuso, who stepped down in April after Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
“Mancini is the coach,” Malago said before explaining that he considered the former Manchester City manager the best person for the position.
Mancini Returns To Lead Italy Again
Mancini was first appointed by Italy in May 2018 after the country failed to qualify for that year’s World Cup. He rebuilt the team around a possession-based approach and oversaw a world-record 37-match unbeaten run.
Likewise, the gaffer went on to win the delayed Euro 2020 tournament in 2021 with Italy. The Azzurri defeated England on penalties at Wembley in the final.
That win delivered the country’s first major international trophy since the 2006 World Cup. However, Mancini was unable to build on that success.
Italy finished behind Switzerland in their 2022 World Cup qualifying group before suffering a shock play-off semi-final defeat to North Macedonia.
He remained in charge until August 2023, when he resigned unexpectedly before accepting an offer to manage Saudi Arabia.
Mancini left that position in October 2024 and later returned to club management with Qatari side Al-Sadd. His first Italy spell ended with 37 wins from 61 matches, alongside 15 draws and nine defeats.
Why Italy Have Turned Back To Mancini
Mancini returns with the national team facing an even more serious challenge than when he first took charge eight years ago.
Italy’s failure to reach the 2026 tournament means the four-time winners have now missed three consecutive World Cups.
Gattuso departed after their latest qualifying campaign, leaving the federation to undertake another search for a new head coach.
Pep Guardiola rejected an approach before Andrea Pirlo emerged as the preferred candidate of technical director Paolo Maldini.
That deal was stopped amid concerns over Pirlo’s commercial relationship with Russian betting company Fonbet, prompting Maldini and adviser Leonardo to resign after only 16 days.
The breakdown opened the door for Mancini, whose familiarity with the federation and several senior players offers the possibility of a quicker transition than an entirely new appointment.
Yet his return cannot be viewed solely through the success of Euro 2020. Mancini was also responsible for one of Italy’s three World Cup failures.
Likewise, he must demonstrate that he can construct another successful cycle rather than simply attempting to recreate his previous team.
His immediate task will be preparing Italy for their Nations League opener against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico on September 25. Away matches against Turkey and France will follow during the opening international window.
Claudio Ranieri Strengthens Italy's New Coaching Project
Romano also reports that Claudio Ranieri has been appointed as the federation’s new technical director, replacing Maldini and overseeing technical operations across Italy’s national-team structure.
Ranieri brings more than three decades of managerial experience and most famously guided Leicester City to the 2015-16 Premier League title.
His appointment gives Mancini an experienced senior figure within the federation, but results with the national side will ultimately determine whether the project succeeds.
Mancini has already revived Italy once. However, helping the team to contend in a major tournament after three successive World Cup absences will be a significant challenge.
