🇮🇹 Mancini Begins New Chapter with Italy
Roberto Mancini has returned to the Italy national team after around three years away, declaring that his main objective is to guide the Azzurri back to winning ways as quickly as possible, beginning with the Nations League.
Mancini was appointed at the end of July after Italy endured a difficult period and failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, resulting in a third consecutive absence from the global tournament.
🏆 Previous Spell Included European Championship Glory
Mancini previously managed Italy between 2018 and 2023, leading the national team to the European Championship title in 2021, one of the most significant achievements of the Azzurri in recent years.
However, his previous spell also included a major disappointment when Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after losing to North Macedonia in the European playoff.
Italy’s latest failure to reach the World Cup led to further changes at both the technical and administrative levels before Mancini was given another opportunity to rebuild the national team.
🔄 Major Changes Around the Italy Team
Mancini’s return followed Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation after the failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. General manager Gianluigi Buffon also left his position, while Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina resigned.
Giovanni Malago subsequently took over as federation president as Italian football moved toward another period of restructuring.
⚽ Mancini’s Philosophy: Winning While Playing Well
During a press conference at Italy’s training center in Coverciano, Mancini explained the approach he wants to implement during his second spell in charge.
He said: “My principle is to have a team that dominates, plays good football and always gives everything. We cannot always win, but we start with this idea: winning.”
He added: “To win, we have to be a team that plays well and enjoys what it does. That is my concept.”
The comments underline Mancini’s intention to combine results with a clear footballing identity as he begins rebuilding the national team.
⭐ Young Players Central to the Rebuilding Plan
Mancini also discussed the expanded 34-man squad, stressing that identifying players capable of contributing to Italy’s future is one of his main priorities.
He said: “If we want to build a strong team for the future, we have to quickly identify which players can help us, especially the young ones. That is why we want to see them on the pitch.”
The squad includes a mixture of established names and younger players as Mancini works to build a group capable of competing at the highest level in the coming years.
📅 Italy Begin Against Belgium
Italy’s rebuilding process begins with a match against Belgium on Friday in Rome, in the opening round of Group A in the Nations League.
The Azzurri will then travel to face Turkey on September 28, before meeting France on October 2.
Italy will face Turkey again on October 5, this time in Bologna.
These matches will provide Mancini with his first major opportunity to assess the squad, test different options and begin shaping his team for the next stage.
🎯 A New Beginning for the Azzurri
Mancini will now look to use his return to rebuild Italy by combining positive results with improved performances and the development of young talent.
The Nations League fixtures will provide an important starting point, giving the coaching staff the opportunity to work on a more stable team structure ahead of future major competitions.
📢 Can Roberto Mancini restore Italy to the top level of international football? Share your thoughts on his return to the Azzurri.
