Roberto Mancini, the coach of Italy, has stepped down, concluding a five-year tenure during which they secured the European Championship but fell short of the World Cup, as stated by the football federation (FIGC) on Sunday.
Mancini assumed leadership of the four-time World Cup champions in 2018 after their failure to qualify for the global tournament in Russia that year, marking the first time they had missed the soccer’s premier event since 1958.
The 58-year-old coach described his resignation as a “personal decision.”
In an Instagram post, Mancini wrote, “I extend my gratitude to all my players and supporters who have been with me throughout these five years. The remarkable victory of the 2020 European Championship will always hold a special place in my heart. It has been an honour.”
Guiding a transitional Italy squad to success at the 2021 European Championship, Mancini achieved this feat following the retirements of stalwarts Andrea Barzagli, Daniele De Rossi, and captain Gianluigi Buffon.
Under Mancini’s guidance, the team maintained an undefeated streak of 37 matches between October 2018 and October 2021 – a record in men’s international football.
Italy performed well in the Nations League during Mancini’s tenure, securing third-place finishes in both the 2020-21 and 2022-23 editions.
“A significant chapter in the history of the Azzurri, which began in May 2018 and culminated with the 2023 Nations League Finals, has now concluded,” stated the FIGC.
“In the midst of this, the victory at Euro 2020 stands out – a triumph achieved by a united group of individuals.”
Yet, despite these achievements, Mancini could not guide Italy back to the World Cup, as the team failed to qualify for last year’s tournament in Qatar after a surprising 1-0 defeat at home to North Macedonia in a playoff match.
After the unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign, Mancini faced considerable pressure from the Italian media to step down. However, he received support from the president of the national federation to continue in his role.
“I extend my thanks to President Gabriele Gravina for his trust, as well as to all members of the FIGC,” Mancini added.
His resignation comes shortly after he was assigned the responsibility of overseeing Italy’s Under-21 and Under-20 teams, aiming to integrate consistent styles and playing systems across different age groups.
Italy’s upcoming matches in September include encounters with North Macedonia and Ukraine in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
In Group C, Italy currently ranks third with three points from two games, trailing behind England with 12 points from four matches and Ukraine with six points from three matches. North Macedonia has accumulated three points from three matches.
Given the crucial upcoming engagements for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, the FIGC stated that the name of the new national coach will be revealed in the coming days.
Italian media reports suggest that Antonio Conte and Luciano Spalletti, who departed Napoli after securing the Serie A title, are potential contenders for the coaching position.
Conte previously managed Italy from 2014 to 2016, leading them to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals, where they were defeated by Germany in a penalty shootout.
