FOOTBALL – Former Italy manager Roberto Mancini will return for a second spell as national team coach, Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President Giovanni Malago said yesterday, while Claudio Ranieri will take over as technical director.
Mancini will replace Gennaro Gattuso, who left the post in April following a World Cup qualifying defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina, the third time in a row the four-times world champions had failed to reach the global showpiece event.
Malago announced the appointment during a Federal Council meeting.
“Mancini is the coach,” he said before confirming the decision at a press conference.
“I believed that the best person to become head coach was Roberto Mancini,” Malago told reporters.
The 61-year-old Mancini guided Italy to the European Championship title in 2021.
He led Italy in 58 matches during his first spell and at club level has managed Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Manchester City, where he spent three years and guided them to their first Premier League title in 2011-12.
Former FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini and adviser Leonardo resigned from their roles on Monday after their primary candidate for the Italy coach’s position, Andrea Pirlo, had his appointment blocked due to his ties to a Russian betting firm.
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