Roberto Mancini is officially back in charge of Italy, returning to the national team bench three years after his previous spell. The announcement, made by FIGC President Giovanni Malagò, has quickly turned the focus from the appointment itself to a bigger question: is Mancini the right man to lead Italy into 2026?
Mancini's case is built on one major achievement. He remains the coach who guided Italy to the EURO 2020 title, giving him a level of credibility few candidates could match. That success is likely to be the main reason many supporters see his return as a sensible move for a team looking for direction and stability.
At the same time, the debate around the Italy job has not disappeared just because the decision is official. Winning a major tournament in the past does not automatically settle concerns about the future, and the discussion now centers on whether Mancini can repeat that impact in a different moment for the national side. The key issue is not only his history with Italy, but whether he is still the best fit for the next cycle.
For the FIGC, bringing back a familiar and proven figure appears to be a clear statement of intent. For fans and observers, though, the real judgment will come from what Mancini can build from here and whether his second spell can put Italy in the right place for 2026.
