Roberto Mancini is set to return to lead Italy once again as the national team coach, with Claudio Ranieri appointed as technical director, Italian Football Federation president Giovanni Malago confirmed.
Mancini will replace Gennaro Gattuso, who stepped down in April after Italy suffered a World Cup qualifying loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was the third consecutive occasion that the four-time world champions failed to book a place at the sport’s biggest tournament.
Malago delivered the news during a Federal Council meeting.
“Mancini is the coach,” he said, before adding that the decision would be formally confirmed at a press conference.
“I believe the right option to take over as head coach is Roberto Mancini,” Malago told reporters.
The 61-year-old Mancini won the European Championship with Italy in 2021.
During his first stint in charge, Mancini oversaw 58 matches. At club level, he has managed Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Manchester City, where he spent three seasons and steered them to their first Premier League title in 2011-12.
Paolo Maldini, a former FIGC technical director, along with adviser Leonardo, resigned on Monday after the federation’s main choice for the Italy coaching role, Andrea Pirlo, had his appointment blocked due to links to a Russian betting company.
Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who had been the federation’s initial preferred candidate to take charge of the national team, declined the offer earlier this month.
Ranieri will move into the role of FIGC technical director, taking over from Maldini.
The 74-year-old coach, best known for guiding Leicester City to an astonishing English Premier League title in 2016, will oversee technical operations and the development of elite football within Italy’s national-team framework.
“I needed someone with whom I could share the decision on the coach. If our views weren’t aligned, my justification would have carried very little weight,” Malago said.
“As a result, today we have both a new coach and a new technical director for Italy.”
