Roberto Mancini is back with Italy, as the Italian soccer federation turns again to the coach who led the Azzurri to the Euro 2020 title, won in 2021. His return comes after another major blow for the national team, with Italy trying to recover from a third straight World Cup miss.
The move puts Mancini, 61, in familiar territory. He is once again being asked to revive an Italy side described as being in crisis, a role he previously took on before guiding the team to European Championship success.
His comeback is especially notable because his first spell ended in dramatic fashion. Mancini resigned as Italy coach in August 2023, a surprise departure that was followed just two weeks later by his appointment as Saudi Arabia’s national team coach.
Now Italy is betting that the same manager who delivered a continental title can restore direction and confidence. The decision suggests the federation sees Mancini as the best-known answer to a long-running problem: turning Italy’s talent into a team that can compete consistently and avoid more qualification failures.
