Roberto Mancini has announced his resignation as the coach of the European champions Italy, according to a statement released by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Sunday.
The FIGC conveyed that they were informed of Mancini’s decision late on Saturday evening.
This unexpected move comes as Italy is set to face crucial Euro 2024 qualifiers against North Macedonia and Ukraine in the near future.
In light of these upcoming commitments, the federation is working to swiftly appoint a new national coach.
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Roberto Mancini was appointed as the head coach of the Italian national team in May 2018, following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Under his guidance, Italy achieved a remarkable victory at Euro 2021.
However, the team’s journey took a different turn when they failed to secure qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Mancini’s resignation has taken the football community by surprise, as there were no prior indications of such a decision.
Notably, the 58-year-old coach had recently been assigned additional responsibilities, taking charge of Italy’s Under-21 and Under-20 teams earlier this month.
As speculation swirls regarding Mancini’s successor, Italian media outlets have pointed towards Luciano Spalletti as a potential candidate.
Spalletti made headlines by leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years during the previous season, before departing from his position.
