Roberto Mancini Returns to Italy as Head Coach; Claudio Ranieri Named Director

Roberto Mancini returns to manage Italy four years after his dismissal, while Claudio Ranieri replaces Paolo Maldini as technical director.

Italy's Football Federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malagò announced on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, that Roberto Mancini will return as the national team's head coach. The 61-year-old tactician, who previously secured the 2021 European Championship title, replaces the vacancy left by Gennaro Gattuso. Gattuso resigned following a World Cup playoff defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina in April, a result that confirmed the Azzurri would miss a third consecutive men's World Cup tournament.

Alongside the managerial appointment, Claudio Ranieri has been named the new technical director. This administrative shift follows the departure of Paolo Maldini, who stepped down from the role on Monday, July 27, just 16 days after his initial appointment. The restructuring also saw the exit of team advisor Leonardo, who resigned in tandem with Maldini after their recommended candidate for the coaching position was rejected by federation leadership.

Pirlo Candidacy and Fonbet Controversy

Andrea Pirlo, a member of the 2006 World Cup-winning squad, emerged as the primary candidate supported by Maldini and Leonardo. However, Malagò blocked the hiring due to Pirlo’s commercial ties with the Russian betting firm Fonbet. Since July 2025, Pirlo has served as the manager of United Arab Emirates club Dubai United and became a global ambassador for Fonbet in October of that year.

Malagò clarified that his decision to veto the appointment was a personal judgment call based on the betting firm collaboration, of which he was previously unaware. The FIGC president noted that while there was disappointment regarding the disagreement, the separation from Maldini and Leonardo was reached through an amicable agreement. Other high-profile targets, including Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, reportedly turned down offers to lead the national side before the federation pivoted back to Mancini.

Mancini’s Recent Managerial History

Mancini’s previous tenure with the Azzurri spanned five years from 2018 to 2023. Despite the continental success in 2021, his first stint ended abruptly when he resigned in August 2023. Within two weeks of that resignation, he signed on to lead the Saudi Arabia national team. Most recently, the veteran coach held a managerial position at Al Sadd in Qatar before this return to the Italian federation.

Malagò described Mancini as the "best possible choice" for the role, citing a lack of time and a specific list of qualifications that made him the right fit for the current transition. The federation president emphasized that there were no alternative interpretations of the facts regarding the collapse of the Pirlo negotiations, despite what he described as embellishments by outside parties.

Further Staffing and Juventus Links

With the technical director position filled by Ranieri, attention has turned to the vacancy left by the departing staff. Giorgio Chiellini has been identified as a leading candidate to succeed Maldini in a leadership capacity. However, upon arriving for federation meetings, Chiellini stated he remains satisfied with his current professional role at Juventus.

The appointment marks a significant shift for the FIGC, which had been without a permanent head coach since the April playoff loss. Mancini now takes over a program seeking stability after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup during his previous term and subsequently missing out on the upcoming global tournament under Gattuso's brief leadership.