Roberto Mancini issued an apology in his first public comments Wednesday after being rehired to coach an Italy squad in crisis three years after he abandoned the same job for a lucrative contract with Saudi Arabia. Mancini compared leaving the Italy job to 'losing the woman of your life.'
Mancini resigned from his role as Italy's head coach on August 5, with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announcing his departure on August 6. His resignation came as a surprise, with the Italian national team having recently secured a spot in the 2024 European Championship qualifiers. The FIGC later confirmed his move to coach the Saudi Arabia national team on a reported $43 million deal, making him the highest-paid coach in international football.
Despite the controversy surrounding his departure, Mancini expressed his regret and desire to return to the helm of the Italian team. His reappointment comes at a critical juncture for the squad, which has struggled to find consistent form and is seeking to rebuild its reputation on the international stage. The specifics of the crisis were not detailed in the notes provided, but the mention of a "squad in crisis" suggests significant challenges facing the team and its new/returning coach.