Introduction
On 29 July, according to expert journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Italian Football Federation officially announced that Roberto Mancini was appointed as the new Italy head coach.
Andrea Pirlo Connections with Russian Brand
Mancini was appointed after Andrea Pirlo was removed from consideration on 27 July 2026 due to his deal as a global brand ambassador for Fonbet, a major Russian sports betting company.
Italy’s Political Image
Because of Italy’s strong political stand against Russia, which has heated up due to the Russia–Ukraine war, Italians are very sensitive about their public image and decided not to proceed with Pirlo’s appointment.
Mancini’s Remarkable Performance
Now, Mancini will once again become the new head coach of Italy, suggesting how dominant Roberto Mancini’s system really is.
The Italian coach is known for his remarkable spell between 2018 and 2023, including his significant triumph at UEFA Euro 2020, where Italy defeated England on penalties in the final.
The decision came after Italy’s poor performances under Gennaro Gattuso, who left after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third straight time.
My Perspective
In my perspective, this is a medicore decision from Italy National Team because firing Andrea Pirlo in a few days without giving him chance to resign from the Russian brand is another disrespect towards to Italian icon Pirlo.
In my opinion, Mancini is a better coach compared to Pirlo, Roberto Mancini has the experience on National and club level while Andrea Pirlo got no experience except coaching a team from Turkiye that is not even ranked on middle on standings.
In overall, Mancini’s appointment would be a good decision if Pirlo was not appointed before and then terminated after several days
Roberto Mancini’s Managerial Career
| Club / National Team | Years | League / Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Fiorentina | 2001–2002 | Serie A |
| Lazio | 2002–2004 | Serie A |
| Inter Milan | 2004–2008 | Serie A |
| Manchester City | 2009–2013 | Premier League |
| Galatasaray | 2013–2014 | Süper Lig |
| Inter Milan | 2014–2016 | Serie A |
| Zenit Saint Petersburg | 2017–2018 | Russian Premier League |
| Italy | 2018–2023 | International Football |
| Saudi Arabia | 2023–2024 | International Football |
| Al-Sadd | 2025–2026 | Qatar Stars League |
| Italy | 2026–Present | International Football |
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