Italy reappoint Roberto Mancini as head coach

Italian football coach Roberto Mancini has been appointed as the head coach of the Italian national football team for the second time, taking up the difficult responsibility of reviving the Azzurri following the national side’s inability to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the past three occasions.

This appointment was made official by FIGC president Giovanni Malagò on Tuesday.

As part of the revamp, Roberto Mancini’s former teammate and Italy’s technical director Roberto Maldini has been stripped of his position and Claudio Ranieri appointed as his successor. It was alleged that Maldini had offered to quit the technical director position in case Mancini was hired as the coach.

Roberto Mancini now has the responsibility of lifting Italy from its low phase and bring the four-time World Cup winners back into the global picture.

“Today we have a new coach and a new technical director,” Malago told reporters, announcing another press conference with Mancini and Ranieri on Wednesday

The 61-year-old Mancini was previously Italy boss from 2018 until 2023, leading them to the Euro 2020 title.

He has been preferred to another ex-national team coach in Antonio Conte.

Maldini had also apparently said he would resign if Conte was chosen, reportedly wanting Brazil-born former Italy midfielder Thiago Motta to be given the job.