Roberto Mancini to be named Italy head coach for second time, source says

play Live Sign upShow navigation menuNavigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastExplainedSportOpinionVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomyHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelSponsored Contentplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upSport|FootballRoberto Mancini named Italy head coach for second timeMancini coached the national side in 2018-2023 and returns to the job with Italy having failed to qualify for a FIFA World Cup since 2014. xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoRoberto Mancini is appointed Italy manager for a second time [File: Stringer/Reuters]By ReutersPublished On 28 Jul 202628 Jul 2026Former Italy manager Roberto Mancini will return for a second spell as national team coach, ⁠Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President Giovanni Malago said on Tuesday, while Claudio Ranieri will take over as technical director. Mancini will replace Gennaro Gattuso, who left the post in ⁠April following a World Cup qualifying defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina, the third time in a row the four-times world champions had failed to reach the global showpiece event. Malago announced the appointment during a Federal Council meeting. “Mancini is the coach,” he said before ‌confirming the decision at a press conference. “I believed that the best person to become head coach was Roberto Mancini,” Malago told reporters. The 61-year-old Mancini guided Italy to the European Championship title in 2021. He led Italy in 58 matches during his first spell and at club level has managed Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Manchester City, where he spent three years and guided them to their first Premier ⁠League title in 2011-12. Former FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini and ⁠adviser Leonardo resigned from their roles on Monday after their primary candidate for the Italy coach’s position, Andrea Pirlo, had his appointment blocked due to his ties to a Russian betting firm. Former Manchester City ⁠manager Pep Guardiola, who was the FIGC’s first choice to take charge of the national team, turned down the job ⁠this month. Ranieri will take up the role of FIGC ⁠technical director, replacing Maldini. The 74-year-old coach, who famously led Leicester City to a shock English Premier League title in 2016, will oversee technical operations and elite football development across Italy’s national team structures. “I needed someone ‌with whom I could share the decision on the coach, because without that shared view my reasoning would have carried little weight,” Malago said. “So consequently, today we ‌have ‌a new coach and a new technical director for Italy.” Advertisement AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English: