Football Italia
·27 July 2026
Football Italia
·27 July 2026
It is being reported that Roberto Mancini is set to become the new Italy coach, with FIGC President Giovanni Malagò expected to make the decision before replacing technical director Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo.
Malagò’s project, presented when he stood for election as President of the Italian Football Federation, was to create a new technical director role for Club Italia.
Italy technical director Paolo Maldini, special advisor Leonardo, FIGC President Giovanni Malagò and Lega Serie A President Ezio Simonelli (figc.it)
That official would then be in charge of appointing the Italy coach, while also supervising the different youth teams and academies across the country.
However, after their attempts to bring in Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Andrea Pirlo all failed for different reasons, it is now widely reported that Maldini and Leonardo have resigned.
FIGC President Giovanni Malago (left) with coach Roberto Mancini (right): @coppa_canottieri via Instagram.
Rather than appointing a new technical director first, it is now being reported that Malagò will choose the coach himself and only then name a director for the Club Italia role.
The leading candidate for that position 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 happens, his first choice is expected to be Mancini, marking a return to the Nazionale after he held the job from 2018 to August 2023 and won the EURO 2020 trophy.
He resigned suddenly amid tension with the then-President of the FIGC and later took a more lucrative role as coach of the Saudi Arabia national team, a spell that lasted only until October 2024.
Mancini was most recently in charge of Al-Sadd, but that stint ended last month.
