Roberto Mancini returns to rescue Italy after three straight FIFA World Cup misses
Roberto Mancini has been reappointed as the head coach of the Italian national football team following a period of poor performance and missed World Cup qualifications. He is joined by Claudio Ranieri, who will serve as the new technical director to help rebuild the squad.
Why it matters
This appointment marks a significant attempt to stabilize Italian football after a series of historic failures to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
Roberto Mancini has been handed the daunting task of rebuilding Italy once again, with the former European Championship-winning coach returning to the Azzurri dugout as the four-time world champions look to end their alarming World Cup drought.Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malagò confirmed Mancini's appointment as Italy's new head coach on Tuesday, while former Italy midfielder Claudio Ranieri has been named the federation's new technical director.The decision comes after a turbulent period for Italian football, with the national team failing to qualify for the last three FIFA World Cups. The crisis deepened after former coach Gennaro Gattuso and FIGC president Gabriele Gravina stepped down in April following Italy's latest qualification failure.Mancini returns three years after dramatic exitMancini's return marks a surprising comeback almost three years after he left the national team in August 2023.
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