In brief
Mancini was swiftly reappointed as Italy’s head coach following Andrea Pirlo’s withdrawal over a betting‑firm link and Paolo Maldini’s resignation. The Football Federation confirmed Mancini, who led Italy to the Euro 2020 title and a 37‑game unbeaten run, as the new manager. Claude Ranieri takes over as technical director after Maldini’s exit. Italy will open their Nations League campaign on September 25 against Belgium and will play Turkey three days later.
Italy’s national team head coach role has returned to Roberto Mancini, just 24 hours after former World Cup-winning midfielder Andrea Pirlo withdrew from consideration because of a controversy surrounding a Russian betting company. The Fédération Italienne de Football (FIGC) announced the decision to appoint Mancini, who previously led Italy to Euro 2020 glory and a record 37‑game unbeaten streak.
Mancini's reappointment comes after Paolo Maldini, who had been named Italy’s technical director two weeks ago, resigned along with adviser Leonardo following Pirlo’s exit. The club legend, who steered Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2015‑16, is taking over the technical director role.
The FIGC’s president, Giovanni Malago, expressed confidence in Mancini’s experience, saying: “I believed that the best person to become head coach was Roberto Mancini.” No formal statement was issued regarding Pirlo, but the federation moved quickly to secure a seasoned manager.
Mancini’s brief return follows a complex period for Italy: Gennaro Gattuso left in April after a failed attempt to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, and the team has been absent from the tournament finals since 2014. He resigned in August 2023 after leaving the squad in a disappointing play‑off against North Macedonia.
Before taking the reins in 2018, Mancini had a distinguished club career, winning the Premier League title with Manchester City in 2012, three Serie A titles with Inter Milan and a Coppa Italia with both Inter and Lazio. He also managed Galatasaray and Zenit St Petersburg before the national stint. After leaving Italy, he had a short spell with Saudi Arabia’s national side and then joined Qatari club Al Sadd, where he won the Qatar Stars League but left in June.
Italy’s Nations League campaign will kick off on 25 September, with a home fixture against Belgium. Three days later, the Azzurri will travel to Turkey. Fans and fans worldwide will be watching closely as Mancini gears up to steer the squad back into European and global competitions.
