Roberto Mancini is back as Italy’s head coach. That much is official now. But the celebration is far from universal inside the FIGC or around Serie A.
The whole thing feels like a mess that somehow ended with the same guy who walked out three years ago. Let’s walk through how we got here and why some people aren’t thrilled.
How the coaching search completely derailed
It started with Paolo Maldini getting hired as technical director on July 12. Seventeen days later he quit. That’s not a typo. Seventeen days. Maldini tried to bring in Carlo Ancelotti or Pep Guardiola — neither was realistic — then pushed for Andrea Pirlo. That got blocked because of Pirlo’s ties to a Russian betting company. So Maldini and his advisor Leonardo walked. Claudio Ranieri replaced Maldini, and suddenly Mancini’s name was back on the table.
Mancini won Euro 2020. That’s the last major trophy Italy lifted. But his return has real friction underneath it.
Reason one: FIGC president Giovanni Malagò is calling the shots
Malagò and Mancini are close. Like, personally close. That bothers people inside the federation who think the decision should have been more collaborative. When the president hand-picks a coach he’s tight with, it looks less like a merit-based hire and more like a favor. There’s been grumbling about that behind the scenes since the announcement.
Reason two: Serie A power brokers wanted Antonio Conte
The Lega Serie A — the league’s governing body — had its own favorite. Antonio Conte. They pushed hard for him. Conte is intense, disciplined, and has a track record of squeezing everything out of a squad. Some in that camp think Mancini’s return feels like a step backward, not forward. They wanted a fresh start with a different type of energy.
Reason three: The way Mancini left in 2023 still stings
This might be the one that lingers longest. In August 2023, just weeks before critical Euro 2024 qualifiers, Mancini quit. He took the Saudi Arabia job for a reported €20 million a year. He sent his resignation while on vacation in Mykonos. Not face to face. Not even a phone call with the federation brass first. He grabbed 10 members of his Italy staff and brought them to Saudi Arabia with him. That did not go over well. At all.
To be fair, La Gazzetta dello Sport pointed out that Mancini had seen key staff like Alberigo Evani, Attilio Lombardo and Giulio Nuciari replaced before he left. So it wasn’t purely about money. But perception matters. And the perception is that the guy walked out on his country for a pile of cash.
His Saudi adventure lasted just over a year. Reports say he got nearly €25 million after the termination settlement. Now he’s back in Italy. The federation is hoping the history gets buried under results. But some people aren’t ready to forget yet.
Leave a Comment