Italian tactician, Roberto Mancini, has returned as head coach of the Italy national team after three years ahead of the side’s chase of securing a place in the 2028 European Championship.
A statement by the Italian Football Federation confirmed Mancini’s appointment, his second spell in charge of the side, disclosing that the sexagenarian is the best for the position to replace Gennaro Gattuso who left the seat after the team failed to secure a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Azzuri’s third-time on a bounce of failing to qualify for the competition having also missed out in 2022 and 2018 editions.
The board, who also announced that Mancini’s compatriot, Claudio Ranieri, has been given the nod to replace the resigned Paulo Maldini at the technical director position, stated that the Premier winning manager with Manchester City emerges at the position after Pep Guardiola and Andre Pirlo ruled themselves out of the running for the role.
The declaration on Tuesday sees 61-year-old Mancini return to a familiar surroundings where he won the European Championship in 2021 and finished third in the same year as well as in 2023.
His honours also include winning the Serie A thrice, Man City’s first Premier League title win in 2012, four Copa Italia wins and the English FA Cup.