Roberto Mancini is set to return for a second stint as Italy’s national team manager, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President Giovanni Malago confirmed on Tuesday, with Claudio Ranieri appointed as the new technical director.
Mancini, who famously guided Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 during his first spell with a penalty shootout win over England at Wembley in the final, will replace Gennaro Gattuso.
Gattuso departed in April following a World Cup play-off defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina, marking the third consecutive time the four-time world champions have failed to reach the global showpiece event.
FIGC President Malago announced the decision during a Federal Council meeting, stating: “Mancini is the coach.” He later elaborated to reporters: “I believed that the best person to become head coach was Roberto Mancini.”
Mancini’s extensive club career includes managing Inter Milan, Fiorentina, and a successful three-year tenure at Manchester City, where he led them to their first Premier League title in 2011-12.
Joining Mancini in a pivotal role is Claudio Ranieri, who takes over as FIGC technical director, replacing Paolo Maldini.
The 74-year-old, celebrated for orchestrating Leicester City’s shock Premier League triumph in 2016, will oversee technical operations and elite football development across Italy’s national team structures.
The appointments follow a period of turbulence for the FIGC, which saw former technical director Paolo Maldini and adviser Leonardo resign on Monday. Their preferred candidate for the Italy coaching position, Andrea Pirlo, had his appointment blocked due to alleged ties to a Russian betting firm.
Additionally, Pep Guardiola, reportedly the FIGC’s initial choice, turned down the role earlier this month following his departure from Manchester City at the end of last season after a decade at the club.
Malago emphasised the importance of the new leadership structure, stating: “I needed someone with whom I could share the decision on the coach, because without that shared view my reasoning would have carried little weight. So consequently, today we have a new coach and a new technical director for Italy.”
Italy will be back in Nations League action when they take on Belgium on 25 September.
