ITALY ended their search for a new head coach today, confirming Roberto Mancini’s return to the role.

The Azzurri were seeking a replacement for Gennaro Gattuso, who left the role in April following the nation’s latest failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Italian football federation president Giovanni Malago announced the reappointment of the 61-year-old, adding that Claudio Ranieri will become the new technical director after Paolo Maldini stepped down the previous day, just 16 days after being appointed.

“Time was running out … I believed the person who should become the new coach of Italy is Roberto Mancini, for a whole list of reasons,” Malago said.

Mancini had a five-year stint as head coach of Italy between 2018 and 2023, guiding the side to victory over England in the final of the European Championship in 2021 but failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

He was subsequently in charge of the Saudi Arabia national team and most recently managed Al-Sadd in Qatar.