---
title: "Roberto Mancini returns to the Italy national team: 'Azzurri' seeks a new path to victory"
description: "🇮🇹 Roberto Mancini returns to the Italy national team! 🏆 The 62-year-old coach has taken charge of the 'Azzurri' for the second time following Gattuso's failure in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. #Match #Football #Italy"
date: 2026-07-28T14:34:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/roberto-mancini-returns-to-italy-national-team-en
tags: [roberto-manchini, italy-national-team, figc, euro-2020, world-cup-2026]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Roberto Mancini returns to the Italy national team: 'Azzurri' seeks a new path to victory

![Roberto Mancini in a suit gesturing passionately on the sidelines during an Italy national team match](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/28/roberto-manchini-returns-to-italy-national-team/roberto-manchini-returns-to-italy-national-team-1.webp)

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has officially announced the return of Roberto Mancini to the position of head coach of the national team. The 62-year-old specialist, who once led the team to the pinnacle of European football, is taking responsibility for the fate of the 'Azzurri' for the second time.

### A second chance for a legend

This is not Mancini's first stint with the country's main team. From 2018 to 2023, he led the national squad and achieved historic success — winning Euro 2020. However, following a failure in the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, he left his post. Now, several years later, his name is once again linked with Italian football.

Mancini has replaced Gennaro Gattuso, who also failed to lead the team to the final stage of the 2026 World Cup. The Italians lost in the qualification playoffs to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout — a result that prompted a change in leadership.

### The path from 'Fiorentina' to Qatar

Mancini's coaching career began in 2000 when he became the assistant coach of Lazio. Just a year later, he took charge of Fiorentina, and in 2002, he returned to the Roman club as head coach. He worked at Lazio until 2004.

Then followed a four-year saga at Milan's Inter, where Mancini won three Italian league titles and two domestic cups. In 2008, he left Inter and moved to English club Manchester City, where he also achieved significant success.

In recent years, Mancini has worked in the Middle East, coaching Qatari side Al-Sadd. His experience in different leagues and countries makes him an ideal candidate for the revival of Italian football.

### A new chapter for the Italy national team

Mancini's return is not just a change of coach, but an attempt to bring the Italy national team back on the path to victory. After an unsuccessful qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the team needed a leader with experience and authority. Mancini is exactly that person.

His task is not only to prepare the national team for upcoming tournaments but also to restore the trust of fans, who felt disappointment after the failures in the qualifiers for the 2022 and 2026 World Cups.

Currently, the name of the new head coach has also been announced for the France national team — it is a legendary former footballer and already a decorated coach. But for now, all attention is focused on Italy and its new mentor.