New Italy coach Roberto Mancini and technical director Claudio Ranieri will hold their first press conference tomorrow at 18:00 CET, Giovanni Malagò announced.
Mancini is set to return as Italy's head coach for a second stint, Malagò confirmed during a press conference on Tuesday.
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"It is very positive that both Roberto Mancini and Claudio Ranieri have behaved with great sensibility on the budget issues that need to be taken into consideration," Malagò said.
The press conference took place after a FIGC federal meeting, during which Malagò informed members that he had picked Mancini as the new head coach.

#press #conference #italy

ROME (AP) — Roberto Mancini has once again been tasked with revitalizing an Italy team in crisis, almost exactly three years after he bolted on the national team.
Italian soccer federation Giovanni Malagò announced Mancini as the new Italy coach on Tuesday, adding that Claudio Ranieri will become the new technical director after Paolo Maldini stepped down the previous day — just 16 days after being appointed.
The 61-year-old Mancini led the Azzurri to the European Championship **** le in 2021 but shockingly resigned as Italy coach in August 2023, taking over Saudi Arabia's national team two weeks later.
"Time was running out … I believed the person who should become the new coach of Italy is Roberto Mancini, for a whole list of reasons," Malagò said. "There will be a press conference tomorrow with both Claudio Ranieri and Roberto Mancini."
The Italian national team is in crisis after failing for a third straight time to qualify for the World Cup, prompting the resignations of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso in April.

#italian

After Germany and France, Italy has now also found a new national team coach. Following a successful era between 2018 and 2023, the Squadra Azzurra will once again be led by Roberto Mancini. This was confirmed by president Giovanni Malagò at the press conference after the end of the Federal Council meeting at the FIGC headquarters. Claudio Ranieri was also confirmed as the new Technical Director.
Mancini is the new national team coach
"The national team coach? Time was pressing. I believed that Roberto Mancini had to be the person to become coach of the national team. Both Roberto Mancini and Claudio Ranieri showed complete willingness and great understanding regarding the financial aspects and our budget requirements."
Ranieri is the new Technical Director
"I needed a person with whom I could share the decision on the national team coach. That person is Claudio Ranieri. Just a few minutes ago, he signed his contract. Ranieri and Mancini have already spoken with each other. Tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. there will be a joint press conference."

#team #coach #claudio #technical

According to Il Corriere della Sera, Paolo Maldini's decision to appoint Andrea Pirlo as Italy's new head coach is not supported by everyone in the FIGC, while Roberto Mancini is upset with President Giovanni Malagò.
Former Milan and Juventus midfield star Pirlo is set to be appointed as the new Italy coach, with an official statement from the Italian Federation expected in the coming days.
The decision has been made by new technical director Maldini and his advisor Leonardo and will be approved by FIGC President Malagò. Maldini has been given the power to choose the new coach after being appointed as technical director just two weeks ago.
Corriere della Sera confirms that Malagò's favourite candidate was Mancini, yet Maldini and Leonardo had the final word and decided to go for Pirlo instead.
AL RAYYAN, QATAR – JANUARY 25: Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Saudi Arabia reacts during the AFC Asian Cup Group F match between Saudi Arabia and Thailand at Education City Stadium on January 25, 2024 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

#pirlo #Maldini #figc #president

Italy are still on the look-out for a new head coach and could also bring in a new figure to act as the bridge between the youth and senior sides after learning that Gianluigi Buffon will not be returning to the Azzurri set-up.
FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo are still on the search for a new head coach for the Italy national team after learning that neither Pep Guardiola nor Carlo Ancelotti will be taking on the job. Friday’s reports indicate that Andrea Pirlo is the new frontrunner for the vacant CT role.
La Gazzetta dello Sport also reported on Friday that Buffon has rejected the opportunity to return to the Italy set-up.
Buffon had joined the national team group shortly after his retirement in 2023 and had served as delegation chief until Italy’s World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of May 2026, after which he resigned along with Gennaro Gattuso and former FIGC President Gabriele Gravina.
However, under the new leadership of Maldini and Giovanni Malagò, Buffon had been offered the opportunity to return in a more ‘hands-on’ role within the Club Italia set-up.

#figc #learning

Pep Guardiola has turned down the Italian national team’s offer to become their head coach, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Catalan manager thought it over for several days before saying no. Among the reasons were his desire to take some personal time and his refusal to lead a project without being involved on a daily basis one hundred percent.
“Thank you, it’s an honor, but at this moment I don’t feel up to it,” the Spanish coach replied in the early hours of yesterday morning to the proposal put to him by Maldini and Leonardo.
The FIGC was offering him a long-term project, with its sights set on Euro 2028 and the 2032 World Cup. Guardiola, who left Manchester City after a decade in charge, did not even get as far as discussing the financial terms.
With Guardiola’s no now on the table, the Italian federation has activated its plan B. Andrea Pirlo now appears to be the leading candidate to take over the Azzurri bench.

#take #catalan

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has talked to former Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola and Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti about taking over the crisis-hit national team.
It hopes to announce the new Italy coach within the week, with the Azzurri still reeling after failing for a third straight time to qualify for the World Cup.
Former Italy and AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini was named as the federation’s new technical director at the start of the month and was present at a meeting with the Serie A clubs on Thursday, along with new FIGC president Giovanni Malago and special adviser Leonardo.
“Honestly, we can’t give news about what’s happening. You’ve identified one of our targets,” Maldini said when asked about Guardiola in a news conference after the meeting.
“We can’t hide that we also talked with Carlo Ancelotti before talking with Pep. Honestly, it seemed right to start with the best in the world, to see their general availability.”

#guardiola #ancelotti #federation #former

Pep Guardiola is reportedly seeking a €20m-a-year salary to take over as head coach of the Italy national team, and the latest updates indicate that the former Manchester City boss will give a definitive answer by the early stages of next week.
Guardiola left City after 10 trophy-laden seasons earlier this summer and has emerged as one of the dream candidates to take over as the new head coach of the Italy national side. Antonio Conte, Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo are the other names currently being linked with the vacant CT role.
Recently-appointed FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo travelled to Barcelona to hold direct talks with Guardiola last weekend. Thursday’s reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport claim that the Spaniard wants €20m-per-year to take over as Italy head coach.
FIGC President Giovanni Malagò has recently admitted that the federation would be willing to ‘make exceptions’ for candidates at a certain level, even name-checking the former City and Barcelona tactician, but the Italy national team are unlikely to be able to offer a potential new head coach any more than €10m per season.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 24: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, reacts as a montage of his time at Manchester City is played on the LED screen inside the stadium following the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

#guardiola #coach

Pep Guardiola has held talks about becoming Italy head coach, Italian Football Federation president Giovanni Malago has confirmed.
Guardiola left Manchester City this summer after 10 successful years in England, during which time he won six Premier League ****** les, three FA Cups, five League Cups and the Champions League.
Italy have been without a head coach since Gennaro Gattuso resigned in April following the country's failure to qualify for a third World Cup in a row.
Sky Italia first reported contact between the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and the 55-year-old on Monday.
In an interview with Italian digital sports media platform Cronache di spogliatoio, Malago confirmed talks had been held with the Spaniard and that "exceptions" could be made for his salary.

#italy #federation #malago #held

Beppe Bergomi insists that Paolo Maldini is the best choice for Italy and the FIGC in his new role as technical director, but says that he is still willing to offer his ***** istance if called upon: “If Paolo called me, I would listen to someone like him.”
Maldini has recently been appointed as the new technical director of the Italian FA under recently-elected FIGC President Giovanni Malagò. He will be tasked with ‘rebuilding’ the Italy national team after three successive World Cup disappointments and with reshaping the wider state of football and youth development in Italy.
Had Maldini not accepted the offer to return to the Italy national team set-up, there was a list of alternatives that reportedly included Bergomi, who says that he is still willing to offer his ***** istance if required.
“I was pleased to be on the list,” said Bergomi in an in-depth interview with La Repubblica.
“There’s a lot of respect between myself and Malagò, he was the one who let me carry the torch during the opening ceremony for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, one of the most exciting moments of my life.

Club football is demanding the spotlight on a day of busy offices, pre-seasons underway, and boardrooms burning up.
The ball starts rolling. Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona officially begin their pre-seasons today. With all eyes on the new 2026/27 campaign, the three La Liga giants are starting medical check-ups and the first training workloads ahead of a demanding season.
Joan Laporta has made a big splash in the market. When asked about Atlético de Madrid's interest in Julián Álvarez, the Barcelona president warned: "We're not going to dance to anyone else's tune, we set the rhythm." He also officially confirmed the signing of Karim Adeyemi and Raphinha's stay, while keeping some uncertainty over Ferran Torres.
Paolo Maldini is taking on a historic mission. One of the living legends of defensive football has been named the new technical director of the Italian Federation (FIGC). His main objective is to rebuild the foundations of the Azzurra and return the team to the absolute elite after the heavy blow of missing their third consecutive World Cup.
A spectacular twist in the Premier League. Switzerland international Johan Manzambi, the undisputed breakout star of the World Cup, is one step away from becoming a new player for Unai Emery's Aston Villa. The Birmingham club have managed to **** the signing from Newcastle when negotiations had seemed all but done.

Paolo Maldini still hasn't decided whether to accept the FIGC offer to become Italy's technical director, but Giovanni Malagò will only wait until tomorrow, according to Gazzetta.
Italian legend Maldini remains the FIGC's main target for the technical director role.
It's a key position in the rebuilding of the Azzurri, as the technical director will have an input in choosing the new head coach and oversee the activities of the national teams, from the youth teams to the first squad.
The meeting between Malagò and Maldini, which was scheduled for Friday, didn't take place, according to Gazzetta, and the FIGC President is now waiting for the ex-defender's final decision.
Malagò has stressed that he'll make a final decision on the technical director by the end of the week, which means he'll only wait until tomorrow for Maldini.

FIGC President Giovanni Malagò has been spotted playing five-a-side with Roberto Mancini, who remains in the running for the Italy national team head coach role, but the head of the Italian FA still wants to appoint a technical director first, and claims that there could be a 'surprise' candidate on the cards.
It is set to be a crucial few days for the future of the Italy national team set-up. Malagò has claimed that 'this is the week for the technical director' and has promised that there will be developments over the weekend.
Italy are still without a head coach or a technical director following the departure of Gennaro Gattuso earlier this year. Delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon followed him and former FIGC President Gabriele Gravina out the door immediately after the World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
ROME, ITALY – JUNE 19: Gianluigi Buffon, Italy new head coach Gennaro Gattuso and FIGC president Gabriele Gravina pose during the press conference at Hotel Parco dei Principi on June 19, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Mancini and Antonio Conte are the two frontrunners to replace Gattuso as head coach of the Italy national team and Paolo Maldini has been widely linked with the offer to take over as technical director.

Wednesday’s reports claim that Milan and Azzurri legend Paolo Maldini is closing in on a decision to return to the Italy national team set-up in the role as technical director.
Newly-appointed FIGC President Giovanni Malago is looking to rebuild the management of the Italy national team following the departures of Gennaro Gattuso and Gianluigi Buffon after the failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup earlier this year.
Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini remain the frontrunners for the role of head coach, but reports over the last few weeks have made it clear that Malago wishes to appoint a new technical director before making a final decision on the next CT.
Maldini has been touted as Malago’s favourite for the position of technical director, but the Milan legend has not yet given his go-ahead.
EMPOLI, ITALY – OCTOBER 01: Paolo Maldini of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Empoli FC and AC MIlan at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 1, 2022 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Wednesday’s reports claim that Antonio Conte is willing to take a significant pay-cut in order to return to his previous role in charge of the Italy national team, but even after that reduction, he is still expected to cost twice as much as his main rival for the job, Roberto Mancini.
Mancini and Conte, two former CTs, are the leading candidates to come in and take over from Gennaro Gattuso, who stepped down shortly after Italy’s World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of March.
ROME, ITALY – JUNE 19: FIGC President Gabriele Gravina attends the press conference at Hotel Parco dei Principi on June 19, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina also resigned after Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row and has since been replaced by Giovanni Malago, who was formally elected earlier this month.
Malago will hold his first federal council meeting of the FIGC on Wednesday afternoon, for the first time since his appointment to the role of President of the Italian FA.

Fabio Capello believes that now is the right time for Antonio Conte to return to the role of head coach of the Italy national team, and suggests that the damage was done for Roberto Mancini when he accepted a position in the Saudi Arabia set-up three years ago.
Giovanni Malago has recently been elected as the new President of the FIGC and appointing a new head coach of the men’s national team is an immediate priority for the new chief of the Italian FA.
As things stand, Mancini and Conte are the frontrunners, although there have also been some calls from supporters to give U21s head coach and recent interim Silvio Baldini a chance with the senior side on a full-time basis.
Mancini and Conte, however, remain the two frontrunners, and Capello has made it clear which one he would prefer to see return to the Italy hot seat.
“We’re talking about a battle between two great coaches, both winners,” Capello said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Giovanni Malagò has been formally elected as the new President of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), beating Giancarlo Abete to succeed Gabriele Gravina.
“It is with profound emotion that I take on this sense of responsibility,” said the new President.
“I cannot do anything alone, but with you, I can do anything.”
ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 15: CONI President Giovanni Malago’ attends the Italian Olympic Commitee ‘Collari d’Oro’ Awards ceremony on December 15, 2015 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
The election was held today in Rome at the headquarters of the FIGC, with 274 delegates representing various elements of the Italian football ecosystem.

‘It will be a great Napoli’
De Laurentiis exclusive. Strong, competitive, attractive, I’m sure we’ll stay up the top. The squad isn’t missing anything’
Football comes down to a vote
FIGC PResidential elections today
Malago is favourite above Abete. Whoever wins needs to start over

The debut episode of the Football Italia Summer Show is now live on YouTube, featuring TNT Sports and SiriusXM commentator and presenter Adam Summerton.
Together, we discuss the future of the Italy national team and the possibility of Roberto Mancini returning as head coach, a prospect that raises an important question: Are the Azzurri looking in the wrong places?
Should Italy bring Roberto Mancini back as the head coach? We asked our readers this question a few days ago, and the answer confirmed how split opinions are regarding the 2020 Euro winner, who, at the same time, failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup before stepping down a year later.
Mancini has just left Al-Sadd, and according to various sources, including Fabrizio Romano and Sky Sport Italia, he’s the favourite to take over the Azzurri after June 22, 2026, when the FIGC Presidential elections take place.
Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Italy interacts with Alberigo Evani, ******* istant Coach of Italy during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Round of 16 match between Italy and Austria at Wembley Stadium at Wembley Stadium on June 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Tallis – Pool/Getty Images)

Interim Italy head coach Silvio Baldini appears to have given his endorsement to Antonio Conte, who remains linked with a move to return to the national team set-up following the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso earlier this year: ‘Whenever he didn’t win, he always came second’.
Baldini is serving as Italy’s interim head coach following the resignation of Gattuso immediately after the World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of March. A permanent CT will not be appointed before the FIGC Presidential elections take place on June 22.
Several names have been linked with the vacant Italy national team head coach role: Massimiliano Allegri was among the first, but he is now set to take over from Conte as head coach of Napoli. Pep Guardiola has also been touted as a long-shot ‘dream’ option for the Azzurri.
As things stand, reports indicate that Conte and Roberto Mancini, two former CTs, are the leading candidates to replace Gattuso.
Baldini, speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of Italy’s friendly against Greece, praised Conte and his ‘methodology’ in what appeared to be a public endorsement of the former Juventus, Inter and Napoli tactician.

Italy are due to take on Greece in an international friendly on Sunday evening, and pre-match reports indicate that there will be opportunities for two new youngsters to make their full debuts for the Azzurri on the night.
Italy are under the leadership of interim head coach Silvio Baldini, who has been called in to take temporary charge following the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso earlier this year. A new, permanent CT will not be appointed before the FIGC Presidential elections take place on June 22.
Baldini usually serves as head coach of Italy’s U21 side, and with the senior side having failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the interim head coach has decided to name a squad made up primarily of players he knows well from the youth set-up.
Of the 24 players that Baldini selected, only Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marco Palestra, Niccolo Pisilli and Pio Esposito had previously been capped at senior level before this week’s round of international friendlies.
Baldini’s temporary reign in charge of the Italy national team began with a 1-0 win away against Luxembourg on Wednesday evening thanks to a lone strike from Inter’s Esposito.