Nostalgia over Reform: Mancini Returns to Rescue a Dysfunctional Italian Squad

In a move that perfectly encapsulates a national tendency to seek refuge in past glories rather than reform decaying structures, the Italian Football Federation has decided its future looks exactly like its recent past. Roberto Mancini is returning for a second tenure as the head coach of the national team. The sixty-one-year-old tactician steps back into a role he vacated in 2023, attempting to salvage a squad that has seemingly forgotten how to qualify for a World Cup.

The path to Mancini’s reappointment reads like a script of bureaucratic dysfunction. The federation initially chased Pep Guardiola, only for the former Manchester City manager to politely decline the offer earlier this month. The backup plan proved even more chaotic. Andrea Pirlo emerged as the preferred candidate of former technical director Paolo Maldini and adviser Leonardo. However, Pirlo’s appointment was abruptly halted over his connections to a Russian betting enterprise. The resulting fallout prompted both Maldini and Leonardo to tender their resignations on Monday, leaving the federation scrambling for a safe, familiar option.

Enter Mancini, a figure whose reputation provides a convenient shield for an organization in turmoil. According to local media, the federation president, Giovanni Malago, confirmed the decision during a Federal Council meeting, stating simply that Mancini is the coach. The mandate is clear, though the execution remains doubtful. During his initial fifty-eight-match run from 2018 to 2023, Mancini delivered the European Championship title in 2021. His club management record, featuring stints at Fiorentina, Inter Milan, and a historic Premier League triumph with Manchester City in the 2011-12 season, offers undeniable pedigree.

Yet, past trophies cannot entirely mask the structural rot within Italian football. Mancini inherits the wreckage left by Gennaro Gattuso, who departed in April following a humiliating defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina. That loss sealed a catastrophic milestone: the four-time global champions have now failed to reach the global showpiece event for a third consecutive cycle, with their last appearance dating back to 2014. Bringing back a former victor might provide a temporary morale boost, but relying on nostalgia is rarely a viable strategy for long-term institutional survival.

Written by Martina Kirchner martina.kirchner@alpineweekly.com