Italy brings back Roberto Mancini after 3rd World Cup miss
What's next: Claudio Ranieri takes over technical operations as Italy opens Nations League play against Belgium on Sept. 25.
Italy has rehired Roberto Mancini as national team coach, bringing back the manager who led the Azzurri to the European Championship title in 2021 after another failed World Cup qualifying run. Mancini replaces Gennaro Gattuso, who left in April after Italy missed a third straight World Cup. FIGC president Giovanni Malagò also installed Claudio Ranieri as technical director after Paolo Maldini and Leonardo resigned amid disagreements over the coaching search. Mancini, 61, previously coached Italy from 2018 to 2023, overseeing a 37-match unbeaten streak but also the team’s failure to reach the 2022 World Cup. Italy has not played at a World Cup since 2014 and begins its Nations League campaign at home to Belgium on Sept. 25.