Roberto Mancini is back in charge of Italy, returning to the national team nearly three years after his abrupt departure in August 2023.
FIGC president Giovanni Malagò announced the appointment on Tuesday. Claudio Ranieri will become technical director, replacing Paolo Maldini, who stepped down the previous day after only 16 days in the position.
Malagò said time was running out and Mancini was his choice for several reasons. Mancini and Ranieri will be presented together at a press conference the following day.
The 61-year-old coach previously guided the Azzurri to the European Championship title in 2021. He resigned in August 2023 and took charge of Saudi Arabia a fortnight later, a decision for which he has recently apologized.
Malagò acknowledged that Mancini's departure had been considered before his return was approved, adding that those involved had completed the necessary assessments.
Italy turn back to their Euro 2020-winning coach
Mancini first took over after Italy failed to reach the 2018 World Cup following a qualifying playoff loss to Sweden. He introduced younger players and a more adventurous style, leading the team through a world-record 37-match unbeaten run Between 2018 and 2021.
That period included victory at the delayed Euro 2020, where Italy defeated England in a penalty shootout at Wembley Stadium. The recovery did not extend to the next World Cup campaign: a 1-0 home loss to 67th-ranked North Macedonia in a 2022 semifinal playoff kept the Azzurri out again.
Mancini remained in the job after that defeat before resigning in August 2023. He left Saudi Arabia in 2024 and most recently coached Al-Sadd in Qatar, departing last month. His club career also includes league titles with Inter Milan and Manchester City.
Italy have now missed a third successive World Cup. The latest failure, sealed by a playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, led to the resignations of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso.
Ranieri joins as Italy technical director
Luciano Spalletti replaced Mancini in 2023 but was dismissed two years later after Italy lost its opening World Cup qualifier to Norway. Ranieri declined an offer to coach the national team last year, with Gattuso appointed instead.
The 74-year-old Ranieri famously led Leicester City to the league title in 2016. His most recent position was as a special adviser at Roma, a role he accepted after coaching the capital club out of a crisis. He later left following a falling out with Gian Piero Gasperini.
The changes came after Andrea Pirlo was removed as the leading coaching candidate amid political concerns about a sponsorship agreement with a Russian betting company. Maldini and special adviser Leonardo then departed by what Malagò described as mutual consent.
Malagò said the unusual circumstances emerged before the new leadership group had properly begun its work. He denied there had been a conflict, describing the separation as the result of a calm discussion and shared agreement.
Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti had already rejected approaches to coach Italy, while Former Italy coach Antonio Conte was also considered.
Mancini faces immediate Nations League test
Mancini's first matches back will come in September and October, when Italy face Belgium, Turkey and France in the Nations League. Malagò said the new coach will have only a pair of training sessions before his opening game.
Malagò cautioned against expecting an immediate transformation, noting that Italy had not suddenly gained players such as Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé or Harry Kane since the defeat to Bosnia. He said the team must make the most of its existing squad in a group containing three World Cup participants, including a pair that reached the quarterfinals.