Roberto Mancini close to Italy coach return, federation chief says
Giovanni Malagò says Italy is awaiting Roberto Mancini’s signature after Andrea Pirlo dropped out of contention for the job.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
2 min read
Roberto Mancini is nearing an Italy coach comeback, with federation president Giovanni Malagò saying talks are at the signature stage after another turbulent turn for the national team.
Malagò told La Gazzetta dello Sport during the FIGC federal council meeting that he is discussing the role with Mancini. “I am speaking with Roberto Mancini about him becoming the new head coach: we are waiting for the signature,” he said.
The post opened after Gennaro Gattuso left in April, following Italy’s latest failure to reach the World Cup. ESPN News Services reported that Andrea Pirlo had been the favorite once Pep Guardiola declined the job, but Pirlo said Monday that he was no longer in the running.
Is Roberto Mancini returning as Italy coach?
According to Malagò’s comments to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mancini is close to taking the job, though the appointment still awaits a signed agreement. That makes the situation advanced, but not formally complete based on the reporting.
Mancini previously managed Italy from 2018 to 2023. His tenure included winning the European Championship, but also the failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
After leaving Italy, Mancini took charge of Saudi Arabia’s national team. He most recently managed Al Sadd in Qatar.
Why did Andrea Pirlo fall out of the race?
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the decision not to continue with Pirlo came after criticism of his commercial ties to Fonbet, a Russian betting company. Pirlo’s role as a global ambassador for the bookmaker drew objections from some FIGC officials and politicians because of the war in Ukraine.
Pirlo, who won the 2006 World Cup with Italy as a player, defended the arrangement in an Instagram post. “During my career, first as a football player and now as a coach, I have always carried out my activity in full respect to the laws of the countries I worked in and the contracts I signed,” he wrote.
He added: “To attribute a political meaning to such a collaboration means to attribute convictions that I have never expressed and that do not belong to me.”
La Gazzetta also reported that the FIGC is seeking a new technical director. The reported Pirlo decision led to the resignations of newly appointed Paolo Maldini and his adviser Leonardo.
Giorgio Chiellini has been described as the leading candidate to replace Maldini. On arrival at the meeting, however, Chiellini said he is happy in his current job at Juventus.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.