Italy Turns to Euro 2020 Hero Roberto Mancini to Revive Crisis-Hit National Team

Italy has once again turned to Roberto Mancini, the man who ended the country's long wait for European glory, hoping he can revive a national team that has sunk into one of the darkest phases in its football history.

Three years after his unexpected resignation from the national team, the 61-year-old has been reappointed as Italy's head coach following the Azzurri's third consecutive failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Italian football federation president Giovanni Malagò, who also confirmed that veteran manager Claudio Ranieri will serve as the federation's new technical director.

Italy's latest World Cup qualification collapse triggered sweeping changes at the top. Federation president Gabriele Gravina and head coach Gennaro Gattuso both stepped down in April after the playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, while former captain Paolo Maldini also exited his administrative role just weeks after joining.

Despite the controversy surrounding his resignation in 2023, when he left Italy to take charge of Saudi Arabia shortly after renewing his commitment to the national side, Mancini has now been handed another opportunity to rebuild the fallen European giants.

His first tenure transformed an ageing Italian squad into one of Europe's most exciting teams. Under his leadership, Italy lifted the delayed Euro 2020 title after defeating England in a dramatic penalty shootout at Wembley and went on a world-record 37-match unbeaten run between 2018 and 2021.

However, that success was followed by disappointment as Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup after a shocking playoff defeat to North Macedonia. Mancini nevertheless remained in charge before resigning the following year.

Since leaving Italy, he has managed Saudi Arabia's national team and later coached Al-Sadd in Qatar before departing the club last month.

The federation explored several high-profile options before returning to Mancini. Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, and Antonio Conte were all linked with the role, while Andrea Pirlo reportedly fell out of contention amid political concerns surrounding a sponsorship issue. Ranieri had also declined the position before eventually agreeing to become technical director.

Mancini faces an immediate challenge with little preparation time before Italy begin their UEFA Nations League campaign in September. The Azzurri will take on Belgium, Turkey, and France, with the new coach expected to quickly restore confidence and competitiveness to a side desperate to reclaim its place among football's elite.

For Italy, the return of the coach who delivered European glory is more than a reunion—it is a desperate attempt to rebuild belief after years of disappointment.