Mancini named new Italy national team coach

Roberto Mancini has returned as the head coach of Italy's national team, tasked with revitalizing the squad after a period of significant underperformance.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president, Giovanni Malago, announced the appointment Tuesday, emphasizing Mancini's mandate to guide the Azzurri back to World Cup contention. Italy has notably missed out on the last three World Cup tournaments, a stark contrast to their success under Mancini's previous tenure.

During his first stint from 2018 to 2023, Mancini led Italy to victory in the Euro 2020 championship. His return signals a strategic move by the FIGC to leverage his proven track record in rebuilding the team.

In a significant shift within the technical staff, Technical director Roberto Maldini has been replaced by Claudio Ranieri. Reports indicated Maldini had threatened to resign if Mancini was appointed, and he had also favored former Italy midfielder Thiago Motta for the coaching role. Malago confirmed the new appointments, announcing a press conference with Mancini and Ranieri scheduled for Wednesday.

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Today we have a new coach and a new technical director