Mancini returns as Italy coach and apologises for Saudi Arabia defection

Roberto Mancini has been reappointed as Italy head coach and issued a public apology on Wednesday, three years after he abruptly resigned the role in August 2023 to take charge of Saudi Arabia’s national team just two weeks later.

“I’m very sorry,” Mancini said at his first press conference back in charge. “It was like losing the woman of your life. And it means you did something that shouldn’t have been done. So I’m sorry, very sorry also for everything that happened over these last three years. I’m going to try to bring the national team back where it belongs.”

Mancini’s return comes in the wake of Italy’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. The crisis prompted the resignation of federation president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso in April, shortly after a playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The 61-year-old was not the federation’s first choice. Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola both turned the job down, while Andrea Pirlo was removed from consideration amid political concerns over a sponsorship deal with a Russian betting firm, leaving Mancini as the fourth option.

On his departure in 2023, Mancini acknowledged a breakdown in communication with Gravina. “It was completely my fault,” he said. He is also aware that his reception from supporters may be frosty when Italy host Belgium in a Nations League fixture on 25 September at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome — their first match under his renewed tenure. “I realize some people will be against me,” he said. “I’m hoping the squad plays well enough that maybe people will forgive me.”

Italy will also face France and Turkey in their Nations League group. Mancini has a squad that includes Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Barella in midfield, and attacking options in Moise Kean, Pio Esposito and Nicolo Zaniolo — the latter of whom Mancini notably called up to the national team before Zaniolo had even made his Serie A debut. Centre-back remains a concern, with Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi both carrying fitness issues.

“I don’t think we’re in such a bad state: between centre forwards and wingers we have a lot of options,” Mancini said. “And I’m talking about young players who can still improve. I gave Kean his debut, so I know him very well.”

Former Leicester City and Roma manager Claudio Ranieri has been appointed as the federation’s technical director. Ranieri identified grassroots development as a priority, noting that young Italians are increasingly gravitating toward other sports — citing tennis, boosted by the rise of world number one Jannik Sinner — and pledging to make football schools more accessible and affordable.