Report Mancini will be new Italy coach, as Maldini and Leonardo resign

It’s reported Roberto Mancini is likely to become the new Italy coach, as FIGC President Giovanni Malagò will make the choice before replacing technical director Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo.

The project presented by Malagò when he ran for election as President of the Italian Football Federation was to create a new role of technical director of Club Italia.

Italy technical director Paolo Maldini, special advisor Leonardo, FIGC President Giovanni Malagò and Lega Serie A President Ezio Simonelli (figc.it)

That figure would then be responsible for choosing the Italy coach, as well as overseeing the various youth levels and academies around the country.

However, when their choices of Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Andrea Pirlo all failed for different reasons, it’s widely reported that Maldini and Leonardo resigned.

Italy back to Mancini?

FIGC President Giovanni Malago (left) with coach Roberto Mancini (right): @coppa_canottieri via Instagram.

Instead of picking a new technical director first, it’s now reported that Malagò will choose the coach himself and then assign a director to the Club Italia position.

The first choice for that is current Juventus director and former Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini.

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)

If that is the case, then his first choice is likely to be Mancini, a return to the Nazionale after having the job from 2018 to August 2023, winning the EURO 2020 trophy.

He abruptly resigned amid tension with the then-President of the FIGC and took a more lucrative position as coach of the Saudi Arabia national team, which only lasted until October 2024.

Mancini was most recently coach of Al-Sadd, but that ended last month.