Roberto Mancini returns as Italy head coach with Claudio Ranieri named technical director

Roberto Mancini has agreed to be Italy head coach for a second time, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Giovanni Malago said on Tuesday, also confirming Claudio Ranieri will take over as technical director.

Mancini replaces Gennaro Gattuso, who left the post in April after Italy failed to qualify for a third World Cup in succession, and returns to a job he held between 2018-2023, leading the national team to European Championship glory in 2021 following a penalty shootout victory over England at Wembley. In total, Mancini managed Italy for 58 matches during his first spell and at club level has managed Inter, Fiorentina and Manchester City, where he spent three years and guided them to their first Premier League title in 2011-12.

“Mancini is the coach,” Malago said on Tuesday. “I believed that the best person to become head coach was Roberto Mancini.”

Former FIGC technical director, Paolo Maldini, and adviser, Leonardo, resigned from their roles on Monday after Andrea Pirlo’s appointment as Italy head coach was blocked due to the former midfielder’s ties to a Russian betting firm. Pep Guardiola was the association’s first choice but turned down the job last month.

Ranieri replaces Maldini. The 74-year-old, who famously led Leicester City to the 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, we have a new coach and a new technical director for Italy.”