Italy: Roberto Mancini officially returns to the bench of the Squadra Azzurra

  The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has officially put an end to several days of uncertainty. Meeting in Federal Council on Monday, President Giovanni Malagò confirmed the appointment of Roberto Mancini as the new manager of the Italian national team, according to ANSA.

Having won the European Championship with the Nazionale in 2021, the Italian coach makes an unexpected return to the helm of the Squadra Azzurra. His appointment brings to a close a saga that has captivated Italian football in recent days.

Before turning to Mancini, the FIGC explored several options, including Pep Guardiola and Andrea Pirlo. Discussions with the Spanish coach having failed to produce results, Pirlo then appeared to be the frontrunner. However, his appointment was ultimately abandoned due to the controversy surrounding his business ties with Russian companies.

With Roberto Mancini's return, the federation's new leadership hopes to launch a new cycle and revitalize a national team that has been losing momentum. The goal is to rebuild a team capable of returning to the top of international football after several disappointing seasons.

The FIGC's reorganization is not expected to stop there. According to the Italian press, Claudio Ranieri is expected to be appointed as the national team's technical director within the next few hours.

This decision is part of a major restructuring of the body, which follows a particularly turbulent period marked by several internal changes and tensions.  

By relying on Roberto Mancini's experience and knowledge of Italian football, the federation hopes to open a new chapter and allow the Nazionale to return to major international competitions after several failures in its quest to qualify for the World Cup.