Roberto Mancini Returns? Desperate Italy Turn Back To Old Boss After FIGC Chaos

Has Italian football finally found some light at the end of a never-ending tunnel?

After days of boardroom drama, resignations and failed appointments, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has turned to a familiar face, with Roberto Mancini returning for a second spell as Italy head coach.

FIGC president Giovanni Malago confirmed the appointment during Tuesday’s Federal Council meeting, bringing an end, at least for now, to one of the most chaotic managerial searches in recent Italian football history.

“Mancini is the coach,” Malago announced, according to The Athletic.

A Familiar Face Returns

The 61-year-old is no stranger to the Azzurri dugout. During his first stint between 2018 and 2023, Mancini transformed Italy from a team that had failed

to qualify for the 2018 World Cup into European champions, leading them to Euro 2020 glory in 2021 — the nation’s first continental title in more than five decades.

He oversaw 58 matches during that spell before stepping down in controversial fashion in 2023, citing disagreements with then-FIGC president Gabriele Gravina over the federation’s structure. Days later, he accepted a lucrative offer to coach Saudi Arabia.

Now, three years on, Mancini is back to rebuild an Italy side desperately seeking direction.

Chaos Behind The Scenes

Mancini’s appointment follows a remarkable 72-hour period that exposed deep divisions within the federation.

Gennaro Gattuso vacated the role in April after Italy’s World Cup qualifying defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, extending the misery of a nation that has now failed to qualify for three consecutive FIFA World Cups.

The FIGC initially identified Andrea Pirlo as its preferred successor, with newly appointed technical director Paolo Maldini and strategic adviser Leonardo backing the former Juventus midfielder.

However, Pirlo’s candidacy collapsed after concerns emerged over his commercial partnership as a global ambassador for Russian betting company Fonbet. Pirlo was informed on Sunday that he was no longer under consideration.

The fallout was immediate. Maldini and Leonardo resigned just 17 days after taking office, unhappy with how the process had unfolded and effectively forcing the federation back to square one.