Roberto Mancini is officially returning as Italy coach after three years, with Claudio Ranieri appointed technical director of Club Italia, announced FIGC President Giovanni Malagò.
You can follow the latest developments on the Liveblog.
The confirmation caps off a crazy 17 days in Italian football, as it was only on July 12 that Paolo Maldini was formally announced as the first ever technical director, with former Milan teammate Leonardo as his special advisor.
They held a press conference five days ago presenting their project for the rebooting of Calcio from the academies up, in talks with Pep Guardiola to be the coach.
Less than a week later, it has all been scrapped, with Maldini and Leonardo resigning last night after their third choice of coach Andrea Pirlo was blocked over his global brand ambassador contract with a banned Russian gambling site.
Italy back to Mancini after three years
Instead, Malagò went back to his preferred candidate, the return of Mancini three years after he walked away from the job to take a more lucrative position as coach of Saudi Arabia.
That lasted a year, then he was at the helm of club side Al-Sadd.
the UEFA Nations League 2022/23 at K.V.V Quick ’20 Stadium on June 17, 2023 in Oldenzaal, Netherlands. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Mancini had already been the Azzurri coach from 2018 to 2023, winning the EURO 2020 tournament, but also failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Meanwhile, former Leicester City manager Ranieri is set to become the technical director, having left Roma only a few months into last season amid disagreements with coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
The 74-year-old retired from coaching in 2024, then was convinced to come back by his beloved Roma in November 2024 to see out the season.
“With regards to the matter of the Italy coach, what was on the media yesterday was largely correct, in that there was a candidate who had been chosen, and to a degree agreed, as suggested by technical director Paolo Maldini and consultant Leonardo,” said Malagò in a press conference.
“Then the evolution of the nomination of Andrea Pirlo, who we had made an agreement with, led to me no longer approving this candidacy. It was inopportune, I didn’t get time to read everything, but from what I saw, I am sorry that some blew this situation up.
“There is no other way of interpreting the situation, no other truth about it, no other reason for the choice. I was not at all aware, and it seems neither was the technical director, of this collaboration since July 2025 and that represented something that made us reflect.
“This sparked another position, and I’m sorry to disappoint you, but there was no anger or controversy here, yes to disappointment. Practically before we had even started, we were dealing with a unique situation. I was clear in my position, so were they, so like in many families, it was a calm and consensual decision to go our separate ways.
“That is the only truth of the situation. The document I wrote with Paolo Maldini and Leonardo speaks directly to the agreement of this final decision.
“Time is short, your curiosity as the media also pushed us to hurry, and I evaluated the person who should become the new coach of Italy is Roberto Mancini, for a whole list of reasons. I take responsibility for those, but I want to clarify that this does not change the new culture and role of a technical director at Club Italia.
“That is not to be confused with other roles. It is what Paolo Maldini had agreed to, and you must realise that we made a fundamental modification of the statute for Club Italia. Until now, the FIGC President had been the only figure who could lead the Club Italia, so this is a cultural shift.
“With what happened yesterday, I needed someone who could share my vision of who would be the Italy coach, because there has to be a shared vision with the President and technical director of Club Italia. This shared vision on Mancini was not present with Paolo Maldini.
“The person I share that vision with is Claudio Ranieri, who a few minutes ago guaranteed he would take the role. He is the person who will take this very important and delicate role.
“We already spoke on the phone, and tomorrow there will be a press conference with both Roberto Mancini and Claudio Ranieri at 18.00.”
