Roberto Mancini has been appointed as the head coach of Italy for a second time, with Claudio Ranieri confirmed as the new technical director. The announcement was made by Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malagò on Tuesday, following a period of significant changes within the national football setup.
Mancini previously managed the national team between 2018 and 2023. During his initial tenure, he led Italy to victory in the European Championship in 2021, securing the title with a penalty shootout win against England at Wembley. However, his previous spell also saw the team fail to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and experience a slow start to Euro 2024 qualifying. In total, Mancini oversaw 58 matches for Italy during his first period as coach. At club level, his managerial career includes stints with Inter, Fiorentina, and Manchester City, where he spent three years and guided the club to their first Premier League title in the 2011-12 season.
Malagò expressed his belief that Mancini was the most suitable candidate for the role. Mancini replaces Gennaro Gattuso, who departed in April after Italy’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. Mancini’s return comes after his resignation from the national team three years prior, a decision that was reportedly linked to a disagreement with Malagò’s predecessor, Gabriele Gravina, regarding the national team’s structure. Following his initial departure from Italy, Mancini took on a coaching role in Saudi Arabia.
Ranieri takes on technical director role
Claudio Ranieri, who is 74 years old, will assume the role of technical director, succeeding Paolo Maldini. Ranieri is known for leading Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2016. In his new capacity, he will be responsible for overseeing technical operations and the development of elite football across Italy’s national team structures. Malagò emphasized the importance of having a shared vision for the coaching decision, stating that Ranieri’s commitment was crucial.
The appointments follow a tumultuous period for Italian football. The previous technical director, Paolo Maldini, and his adviser, Leonardo, resigned on Monday. Their resignations came after the proposed appointment of Andrea Pirlo as head coach was blocked due to his connections with a Russian betting firm. Pep Guardiola was reportedly the federation’s initial choice for the head coach position but declined the offer last month.
Pirlo learned on Sunday night that he was no longer a candidate for the coaching job, leading to Maldini and Leonardo’s departure after only 17 days in their roles. Malagò confirmed that Ranieri would step into Maldini’s former position. Mancini’s long-standing relationship with Malagò, including their shared membership in a private sports club in Rome, has been noted, with Mancini often considered Malagò’s preferred candidate.
Other names were also considered for the coaching role. Antonio Conte was available after concluding his tenure with Napoli at the end of last season. Football figure Fabio Capello, in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, suggested that Conte should have been given the job over Mancini, citing Mancini’s previous departure for the Saudi role as “really bad.” Additionally, Giorgio Chiellini had ruled himself out of contention for the technical director position, confirming his intention to remain as chief club affairs officer at Juventus.
Mancini is scheduled to be officially unveiled on Wednesday.
Source: theguardian.com
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As News-GB's Sports Reporter, Megan Sinclair reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name interviewing rising British talent. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Edinburgh and completed an NCTJ diploma. Megan lives in Edinburgh, where she plays club tennis and follows track athletics. “Give the athletes room and the story tells itself.”