Roberto Mancini has resigned as coach of Italy’s national soccer team, the Italian football federation (Figc) said on Sunday.
“The Figc communicates that it has taken note of the resignation of Roberto Mancini as technical commissioner of the Italian national team, received late yesterday (Saturday, ed.) evening,” read a statement published on its official website, adding that “an important chapter in the history of the Azzurri closes”.
“Taking into account the important and tight commitments for the Uefa 2024 qualifiers (September 10 and 12 September against North Macedonia and Ukraine), the Figc will announce the name of the new national team coach in the coming days,” the statement added.
The manager made the decision just over a week after Fgic president Gabriele Gravina announced his role had been expanded. With it came the additional responsibility of coordinating the Under-20 and Under-21 national teams.
Mancini started coaching the Azzurri in 2018 and led the team to victory at Euro 2020. The coach also steered Italy into the semi-finals of the 2023 Nations League in June.
Mancini’s statement
Roberto Mancini said his decision to resign as coach of the Italy national team had been his own “personal decision”. He thanked the Italian soccer federation (Figc), his players and fans for “accompanying” him over the years.
“Stepping down as coach of the national team was my personal decision,” Mancini said in a post on Instagram. “I would like to thank the president of the federation, Gabriele Gravina, for his trust, along with all the members of the FIGC.
“I bid farewell and thank all the players and fans who have accompanied me in these last five years”.
Mancini concluded, “I will always carry the extraordinary victory of EURO 2020 in my heart.”
Who will replace Mancini?
The search is on to find a replacement for Roberto Mancini after his surprise resignation as Italy national team coach. Former Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti, and former Italy and Tottenham coach Antonio Conte, are among the most likely candidates.
Spalletti said he would be stepping down as Napoli coach at the end of the season after leading the team to victory in Italy’s Serie A tournament.
Spalletti said he wanted to take a year’s sabbatical in order to spend more time with his daughter.
Conte coached Italy between 2014 and 2016 and in March he left Tottenham Hotspur by “mutual agreement”, reportedly after a breakdown in relations with players.
He had been expected to leave the team when his contract expired at the end of the season.
