Italië’s coaching saga ends as Mancini returns amid failed Pirlo deal

61‑year‑old Roberto Mancini has been reappointed as the head coach of Italy after a three‑year absence, a decision announced by federation president Giovanni Malagò in Rome, ending a saga that saw a Pirlo‑dealRoberto collapse and left the national side without a manager.

Roberto Mancini previously led the Italië national team from 2018 to 2023, guiding the Italiaanse side to the 2021 Europese championship, a triumph that restored the federation’s prestige.

The 61‑year‑old former striker must now reverse a recent run of three consecutive World Cup qualifications missed by the Italiaan side.

The appointment process saw Pep Guardiola and Andrea Pirlo high on Giovanni Malagò’s shortlist to replace the April‑departed Gennaro Gattuso, but Guardiola declined and the Pirlo‑deal faced resistance due to his links with a Russian gambling firm. The Malag issue added further complexity.

The federation released a photo captioned © EPARoberto, and the official statement bore the tag Mancini.Roberto, confirming the new contract.

Mancini’s first match in charge will be on 25 September in the Nations League against Belgium, coached by Mark van Bommel, followed by encounters with Turkey and France in the same competition.

At 61, the former forward remains a Google-favorietDe figure for many fans, and the De announcement in Rome underscores the federation’s swift move to stabilise the national programme.