Roberto Mancini has been reappointed as head coach of the Italian national team, returning to the role he held from 2018 to 2023. The 61-year-old led Italy to victory at the 2021 European Championship before stepping down in 2023 and quickly taking charge of Saudi Arabia's national team. His return comes days after Andrea Pirlo was removed from consideration for the position due to political concerns linked to a sponsorship deal with a Russian betting company.
Italy is currently in turmoil, having failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time, a crisis that triggered the April resignations of both FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso. Mancini's reappointment follows rejected offers to Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti. Italy's next matches are in September and October during the Nations League, where they will face Belgium, Turkey and France.
Mancini is returning to a team he left abruptly two years ago under a cloud of controversy. His second tenure begins without any public explanation for how his previous exit aligns with his reinstatement. The Italian Football Federation has not addressed why other candidates were rejected or how Mancini's rehiring resolves the governance issues that led to multiple resignations.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
