Former Zenit St. Petersburg manager Roberto Mancini has been appointed head coach of the Italy national football team, according to La Repubblica.
“Roberto Mancini is the new head coach of the national team,” Giovanni Malagò, Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President, announced.
Earlier reports suggested that Andrea Pirlo was set to take charge of the Azzurri. However, his appointment reportedly collapsed over his work with a Russian bookmaker. Subsequently, Paolo Maldini and Leonardo stepped down from their roles as FIGC technical director and technical advisor, respectively.
Mancini, 61, previously managed Italy from 2018 to 2023. During his tenure, the team won UEFA Euro 2020 (held in 2021), claimed third place in the UEFA Nations League twice (2021 and 2023), and set what was then a world-record 37-match unbeaten run at international level. The record was later surpassed by Spain, which extended its unbeaten streak to 38 matches following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite those achievements, Mancini failed to qualify Italy for the 2022 FIFA World Cup
After leaving the Italian national team, he coached the Saudi Arabia national team and Qatari club Al Sadd. His previous managerial career also includes spells at Fiorentina, Lazio, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Galatasaray, and Zenit St. Petersburg.
With Manchester City, Mancini won the Premier League, FA Cup, and FA Community Shield. At Inter Milan, he captured three Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia trophies.
As a player, Mancini represented Bologna, Sampdoria, Lazio, and Leicester City. He also earned international honours with Italy, winning bronze at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the 1988 UEFA European Championship.
By Jeyhun Aghazada
