CT Italia, Malagò’s announcement: Roberto Mancini returns to the Azzurri bench. Ranieri, Technical Director

Roberto Mancini is set to become the new head coach of the Italian national team. The Jesi-born coach, who led the Azzurri to the European Championship title in 2021, will return to Coverciano: he was personally selected by FIGC President Giovanni Malagò, who is trying to restore order following the chaos of recent days that led to the resignation of the Maldini-Leonardo duo.

“I’m in talks with Roberto Mancini to make him the new head coach: we’re waiting for him to sign,” Malagò stated during the ongoing Federal Council meeting. The events of the last few days have made headlines around the world: after Pep Guardiola turned down the job, technical director Paolo Maldini and his advisor Leonardo had nominated Andrea Pirlo as the new Azzurri head coach, but faced opposition from Malagò. This led to the duo’s decision to step down immediately.

Mancini will be the new head coach, and Lele Oriali could join him on the bench as team manager, marking his return to the Azzurri staff after several years.

As for the position of technical director, Claudio Ranieri’s name is gaining significant traction; for Malagò, he represents the ideal candidate to manage the situation and lead the Azzurri’s resurgence after several bitter years. Another candidate, Giorgio Chiellini, has stepped aside: “In light of what has been said in recent days, I want to clarify that I am very happy with my role at Juventus and I want to support Director Carnevali.”

Not everyone, however, is enthusiastic about Mancini’s possible return: the Serie A League has identified Antonio Conte as the ideal candidate for the head coach role. Fabio Capello, writing in *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, also took a firm stance against the Mancini option: “In my view, there’s only one person who could take over the national team, because it seems incredible to me that Mancini could return to the Azzurri bench after leaving it the way he did. How can you leave the national team for no reason at all just to go make money in Saudi Arabia? Mind you, I’m not questioning Mancini’s skill as a coach, but what he did, in my opinion, is very serious.” The candidate Capello named as the preferred alternative is Antonio Conte: “He’s an excellent coach. During his two-year tenure, he did exactly what’s expected of a national team coach, and he always delivers through results.”