Roberto Mancini is officially the new coach of the Italian National Team, returning to lead the "Azzurri" after his sensational departure in 2023. The confirmation was made by the Italian Football Federation, while the appointment was previously announced by the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malago.
Mancini will be officially presented on July 29, alongside Claudio Ranieri, who will hold the position of technical director of the national team. His staff is expected to include Leonardo Bonucci, Antonio Gagliardi, Massimo Maccarone and goalkeeping coach Marco Roccati.
Under his leadership, the Italian national team won the European Championship in 2021, after defeating England in the Wembley final, while also setting a historic record of 37 consecutive matches without defeat.
However, his adventure was marred by the dramatic elimination against North Macedonia in the 2022 World Cup play-offs, a defeat that left Italy out of the World Cup for the second time in a row.
A few months later, Mancini unexpectedly resigned and accepted the management of the Saudi Arabian national team with a multi-million dollar contract, a decision that was heavily criticized by fans and the Italian sports community.
Despite the controversy surrounding his departure, the Italian Federation has decided to entrust Mancini with the leadership of the "Azzurri" again, with the aim of returning the national team to the elite of world football. However, his return has not been welcomed by everyone. Former coach Fabio Capello and other well-known figures in Italian football have expressed reservations, recalling the way Mancini left to accept the offer of Saudi Arabia.
