Official! Roberto Mancini returns to take charge of the Italy National Team after the drama involving Pirlo and Maldini.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has officially reinstated Roberto Mancini as head coach of the Italian National Team. The appointment of the former Manchester City manager also brings an end to long-running speculation over who would lead Gli Azzurri following the conclusion of Gennaro Gattuso's tenure.

This confirmation was announced via the official Italian National Team channels on Wednesday.

"Roberto Mancini is the new head coach of the National Team", posted the official X account of the Italian National Team @Azzurri on Wednesday.

Mancini's return opens a new chapter for the Italian National Team, which is working to rebuild after a series of disappointing results in recent years. This decision by FIGC also puts to rest rumours that Andrea Pirlo was the leading candidate to take charge of Gli Azzurri.

Pirlo had been the clear frontrunner for the coaching position. However, FIGC President Giovanni Malagò rejected the nomination of the former Juventus and AC Milan midfielder. This rejection sparked internal friction within the federation, leading Technical Director Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo to resign from their posts after only around 10 days in office.

Alongside confirming Roberto Mancini as head coach, FIGC also appointed Claudio Ranieri as the new Technical Director to fill the position left vacant by Maldini.

This marks Mancini's second spell in charge of Gli Azzurri. He previously managed the Italian National Team between 1 July 2018 and 13 August 2023, and stands as one of the most successful coaches in the modern history of the Italian national side.

The high point of his first tenure came when he led Italy to win the Euro 2020 tournament. Under his leadership, Gli Azzurri defeated England on penalties in the final, ending the nation's decades-long wait for a European Championship title.

At the same time, Mancini's time with Italy also included a major failure. He was unable to secure Gli Azzurri qualification for the 2022 World Cup finals, after a shock 0-1 defeat against North Macedonia in the European zone playoff semi-final.

Across his almost five years managing the Italian National Team, Mancini took charge of 58 matches across all competitions. He registered an average of 2.17 points per match, a statistic that reflects Italy's consistent performance under his leadership.

New challenges now await the 61-year-old coach. Alongside restoring Italy to its position as one of Europe's elite football nations, Mancini has also been tasked with rebuilding public trust and support for Gli Azzurri.