Italy has appointed ROBERTO MANCINI as the country`s male National team head coach.
MANCINI – who won Euro 2020 as Italy boss – returns for a second stint in charge of the Azzurri, after the team failed to qualify for a third successive World Cup.
In a related development, former Leicester city manager CLAUDIO RANIERI was also appointed as technical director after MALDINI’s abrupt departure.
Both MALDINI and his adviser, LEONARDO, quit just 16 days after the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) made the official announcement of their appointment.
It was decided on Sunday that talks with ANDREA PIRLO, MALDINI and Leonardo’s pick to be Italy’s head coach, would not proceed due to concerns over his links to a Russian gambling firm.
MALDINI and LEONARDO were brought in to lead a huge shake-up at the FIGC in the wake of the Azzuri missing out on World Cup qualification for a third consecutive tournament.
