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2,997 days after his first press conference as Head Coach, and 1,081 days after leaving the National Team, Roberto Mancini was once again introduced to the media as the Azzurri's Head Coach. Alongside him were Claudio Ranieri and Giovanni Malagò. The newly appointed FIGC Technical Director and President of Club Italia, who, together with the FIGC President, endorsed his appointment. Before taking questions from journalists, Mancini addressed the room to reflect on 13 August 2023, the day he unexpectedly resigned, just days before embarking on a new chapter as Head Coach of Saudi Arabia. It is a decision he now regrets. "At the time, there was a lack of communication between President Gravina and myself," he said in the conference room at the FIGC headquarters on Via Po. "Had we spoken face to face, things would probably have turned out differently. That's how it happened, and I'm deeply sorry because the Italy shirt has always meant so much to me. It's a bit like the love of your life – if you lose her, you've done something wrong. Now, thanks to President Malagò, I have the chance to make things right. I'll do everything I can to take the National Team back to where it belongs.”
There are many fond memories from his five years in charge of the Azzurri, a spell full of success that reached its peak with the triumph at Wembley, where, on 11 July 2021, his Italy side were crowned European champions. Third in the all-time rankings for both matches managed (61) and victories (37) as Italy Head Coach, behind only World Cup-winning managers Vittorio Pozzo and Enzo Bearzot, Mancini also oversaw a remarkable run of 37 consecutive matches unbeaten between October 2018 and July 2021. That record stood until just a few days ago, when Spain surpassed it following their World Cup final victory over Argentina. Naturally, his ambition is to recreate those achievements: "I'll try to build a team capable of playing the way the Italy of a few years ago did. The goal is to play attractive football so that the fans fall in love with the team again and can forgive me. I spent five years here during my first spell, which is a long time, and I was very happy. Now we've signed a four-year contract. I hope I can win one trophy – or maybe even two – and stay on beyond that."
TRUSTING THE YOUTH. When it comes to discovering young talent in the Serie A and other leagues, Mancini has a proven track record. From Zaniolo to Kean, Tonali to Pafundi, Mancini has never been afraid to give young players their chance. "I believe Italy has plenty of talented young players. We need to trust them and give them opportunities to play." There is no denying that the pool of players available for selection has become smaller in recent years: "The hope is that more Italian players will be playing regularly. If our young players move abroad and feature in top leagues like the Premier League, that's a positive thing." Mancini reaffirmed that he will continue to favour technically gifted players and that individuals will always take precedence over tactical systems ("You can't adopt a style of play that doesn't suit the characteristics of your players"), Mancini also stressed the importance of creating greater continuity throughout Italy's youth setup. "I believe the Under-21s, Under-20s, Under-19s and Under-18s should all play with the same footballing philosophy."
FROM THE NATIONS LEAGUE TO THE WORLD CUP. Mancini's second spell in charge will begin on 25 September at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, where Italy will face Belgium in the Azzurri's opening fixture of the fifth edition of the UEFA Nations League. "Every League A Nations League group is packed with top sides, including ours. These will be important matches and they'll give us an immediate measure of where we stand. It will be a difficult group for us, but also for the other teams." Looking further ahead, the medium and long-term objectives are qualification for the next UEFA European Championship and, above all, the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Missing out on Qatar 2022 remains an open wound for Mancini, with Italy absent from two of the last three World Cups. "Whenever Italy qualifies for the World Cup, we become a team that nobody wants to face. Our objective is to build a competitive team as quickly as possible. First, we want to perform well in the Nations League, qualify for the European Championship and then turn our full attention to the World Cup”.
DONNARUMMA’S PRAISE. During the press conference, Malagò revealed that both former FIGC President Gravina and Gianluigi Donnarummahad welcomed the appointments of Mancini and Ranieri. "Last night I received a text from Gigio saying, 'The perfect choice, it's exactly what the team and I wanted.'" Malagò then added: "I'm delighted for Roberto and Claudio. I think we're all aware of the responsibility that comes with these appointments, especially after failing to qualify for the last three World Cups. It's now been twenty years since Italy last played a knockout match at a World Cup. That really gives you something to think about." The FIGC President also revealed that Ranieri immediately embraced the opportunity to begin this new chapter with the Azzurri. "I thought of Claudio, so I called him on Monday evening. The first question I asked was, 'What do you think of Roberto Mancini as head coach?' His answer was simply, 'Excellent.' That's the foundation we're starting from. Claudio also brings exceptional human qualities, integrity and class – all of which are essential in the current context, regardless of the decision to appoint Mancini."