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See the full story · 5 sourcesHow Italy's chaotic search for new coach saw Roberto Mancini hired and cost Paolo Maldini his job originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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Italy is one of the most successful and powerful nations in soccer history.
A four-time world champion, the Azzurri suffered the unthinkable humiliation of missing out on a place at the expanded 48-team World Cup in North America this summer.
Under then head coach Gennaro Gattuso, Italy were beaten home and away by an Erling Haaland-inspired Norway during qualification, plunging them into the UEFA playoff round. After labouring past Northern Ireland in the semifinals, Italy lost on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina after a 1-1 draw in Zenica where star defender Alessandro Bastoni was sent off.
Gattuso stood down as head coach after failing to reach the World Cup — Italy's third straight failed qualification for the tournament — and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) ramped up a high-profile search for his successor in July. However, things went off the rails.
The appointment of two stalwarts of the Italian and European game means the course is set for Italy's next chapter, although it is hard to avert the sense that the entire national-team setup is in disarray.
MORE: National team coach predictions: Landing spots for Guardiola, Pochettino and more
Roberto Mancini hired as next Italy coach
Roberto Mancini was re-appointed as Italy head coach on a four-year deal running until the end of the 2030 World Cup. The decision was announced on July 28.
Mancini led the Azzurri for five years between 2018 and 2023, taking over in the aftermath of their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
The former Inter Milan and Manchester City boss led Italy to an unforgettable success at the delayed Euro 2020 in the summer of 2021. Italy won all three of their group games in Rome at the Europe-wide tournament, before heading over to London for penalty shootout wins over Spain and England in the semifinals and final, respectively.
However, Italy's initially assured progress to the 2022 World Cup collapsed when they dropped into the playoffs and were stunned by North Macedonia. The Euros success served to keep Mancini in his post, but he resigned in August 2023 and was appointed as Saudi Arabia boss later the same month.
Why did Paolo Maldini resign from the FIGC?
AC Milan great and Mancini's one-time international teammate Paolo Maldini had been leading the search for Gattuso's successor as the FIGC technical director.
Maldini was assisted by special advisor and former Brazil international Leonardo and was appointed on July 12. Just 16 days later, both men walked away as the process for appointing a new head coach descended into farce.
Maldini and Leonardo started big, targeting Pep Guardiola before the recently departed Manchester City manager decided to stick to his plan of taking a break away from soccer.
Attention then turned to Carlo Ancelotti, who was unwilling to step back into the breach with his home country after a disappointing World Cup in charge of Brazil.
Those setbacks were made all the more disappointing by the fact they were widely leaked, but Maldini decided he'd had enough after the attempt to appoint former Milan and Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo. Maldini and Leonardo had Pirlo lined up to take charge, only for the FIGC to block the move amid outcry over the 47-year-old's commercial tie-up with Russian betting company Fonbet.
Pirlo posted on Instagram to insist that his commercial arrangements did not amount to an endorsement of Vladimir Putin's regime in Russia, stating the whole episode had left him feeling "great bitterness". He was not the only one, as Maldini and Leonardo stepped down from their positions.
What did the FIGC president say?
Discussing Maldini and Leonardo's departure, FIGC president Giovanni Malago said: "It was a calm and consensual decision to go our separate ways.
"I needed someone who could share my vision of who would be the Italy coach. This shared vision on Mancini was not present with Maldini.
"Maldini and Leo were gentlemen, as always, but also clear and honest on their views. So was I."
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What is Claudio Ranieri's job with Italy?
Veteran former Chelsea and Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri was appointed to replace Maldini as technical director.
Ranieri moved upstairs at Roma, becoming a special advisor to the ownership when Gian Piero Gasperini was appointed to replace him as head coach after the 2024/25 season.
In April, he left the role, following clashes with Gasperini.
When is Italy's next game?
The first game of Mancini's second spell in charge will be against Belgium as Italy begin their UEFA Nations League campaign in Rome on September 25.
Italy beat the Red Devils in the quarterfinals en route to glory at Euro 2020.
The Azzurri will also face France and Turkey in Group A1.
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