In a surprising turn of events, Roberto Mancini has resigned as the coach of the Italian national team. Mancini's tenure with Italy has been a rollercoaster ride, marked by a triumphant European Championship victory in 2021 but also marred by the team's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
The Italian soccer federation released a brief statement, acknowledging Mancini's resignation and stating that a new coach would be appointed in the coming days. However, with Euro 2024 qualifying matches against North Macedonia and Ukraine looming on September 9th and 12th respectively, the federation is left with very little time to fill the vacancy.
Speculation is already rife about who could potentially replace Mancini, with former Italy coach Antonio Conte and Luciano Spalletti, who led Napoli to the Serie A title last season, among the names being mentioned. Conte recently left Tottenham Hotspur in March, while Spalletti expressed his desire to take a sabbatical this season.
Mancini's departure comes as a shock, especially considering that just nine days ago, the federation had entrusted him with the additional responsibility of overseeing the under-20 and under-21 teams. Mancini had a contract in place until the 2026 World Cup.
Renzo Ulivieri, the president of Italy's coaches association, expressed surprise at Mancini's resignation and emphasized the need to understand the reasons behind it before drawing any conclusions. Ulivieri recognized Mancini's accomplishments but also acknowledged the disappointment of the team's failed World Cup qualification.
Mancini was appointed as coach in May 2018, charged with the task of rejuvenating the Azzurri following their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup under Gian Piero Ventura. During his tenure, Mancini brought a renewed vigor and youthful flair to the team, winning over admirers throughout Europe during the Euro 2020 tournament.
The coach was commended for his bold decisions, such as calling up the then-Roma forward Nicolò Zaniolo before he had even made his Serie A debut. However, Mancini faced challenges in finding top talent within the Italian league, which has sometimes been hesitant to rely on young players.
The stunning 1-0 playoff loss to 67th-ranked North Macedonia on home soil last year sealed Italy's fate, as they missed out on the opportunity to participate in the World Cup in Qatar.
Mancini's personal life has also been marked by tragedy, as he lost his close friend and former teammate Gianluca Vialli, who served as the team's delegation chief, to pancreatic cancer earlier this year. Additionally, just weeks before Vialli's passing, Mancini mourned the loss of Siniša Mihajlović, another former teammate and fellow coach, who succumbed to a long battle with leukemia.
The future is uncertain for 58-year-old Mancini, who had a successful career as both a player and a club coach, winning league titles with Inter Milan and Manchester City. Mancini's departure leaves the Italian soccer federation in a state of rebuilding, as their women's coach, Milena Bertolini, has also resigned following the disappointment of the Women's World Cup.
Mancini's final match in charge was a 3-2 victory over the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League third-place playoff match on June 18th.
As Italy fights an uphill battle to qualify for the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany after losing their opening qualifier to England, the national team finds itself in need of a new leader to guide them through this challenging period.