Roberto Mancini has been appointed for a second spell as Italy head coach, ending a period of chaos within the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). His return follows the blockage of Andrea Pirlo from the position due to his sponsorship deal with a Russian betting company.
Mancini previously led Italy to victory at the European Championships in 2021. However, the team subsequently failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, and Mancini resigned the following year to manage Saudi Arabia. He spent just 14 months in charge of the Saudi Arabian team before his departure.
Pirlo, a former Italy international, had been considered the frontrunner for the coaching role after Pep Guardiola declined an approach from the FIGC. However, political concerns arose regarding Pirlo's potential appointment due to his partnership with the Russian betting firm. Pirlo confirmed on Monday that he would not be taking the role.
FIGC president Giovanni Malago stated that the situation surrounding Pirlo's potential appointment was a "unique and rare case." Malago confirmed that he was unable to give final approval for Pirlo's candidacy due to the emerging information about his deal with the Russian betting agency. This decision reportedly led to the resignation of FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini and his advisor Leonardo, who had been leading the search for a new head coach. Malago noted that there was consensus in parting ways and that "disappointment" was the primary emotion.
Malago also announced that Claudio Ranieri, former manager of Leicester, Chelsea, and Roma, will replace Maldini and work alongside Mancini. A third appointment to a leading role within the national team setup is expected in the coming days.
Mancini and Ranieri are scheduled to appear at a press conference on Wednesday. Italy's national team has been seeking to recover from its failure to qualify for three consecutive World Cups, with Mancini now tasked with preparing the team for the 2028 European Championships.
