Mancini Poised for Italy Return After Maldini, Leonardo Resign

FolioPitch.com – 27 July 2026 | According to reports, Roberto Mancini is set to become the new Italy coach following the resignations of technical director Paolo Maldini and special advisor Leonardo from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). The development marks a dramatic turn in Italian football leadership, as FIGC President Giovanni Malagò moves to directly appoint Mancini, bypassing the previously planned technical director role. The report that Mancini will be new Italy coach as Maldini and Leonardo resign has sent shockwaves through the football world, signaling a potential return of the man who led Italy to Euro 2020 glory.

The chain of events began when Malagò’s initial vision to create a Club Italia technical director—who would oversee coaching appointments and youth development—failed to materialize. Maldini and Leonardo were tasked with identifying a new coach after Luciano Spalletti’s tenure ended, but their top candidates, including Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, and Andrea Pirlo, fell through for various reasons. Frustrated, both resigned, leaving Malagò to take charge. The whispered report that Mancini will be new Italy coach as Maldini and Leonardo resign has been circulating in Italian media, with La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport confirming the likelihood.

Mancini, 60, previously coached Italy from 2018 to August 2023, winning the European Championship in 2021 and ending a 53-year drought. His sudden resignation in 2023 amid tensions with then-FIGC President Gabriele Gravina led him to a lucrative stint with Saudi Arabia, which lasted until October 2024. A brief spell at Al-Sadd followed, but he left last month. Now, with the FIGC in disarray, the focus keyword naturally emerges: the report that Mancini will be new Italy coach as Maldini and Leonardo resign is the dominant narrative.

Malagò’s next move reportedly involves appointing a new technical director, with Juventus director and former Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini as the frontrunner. If Chiellini accepts, he is expected to endorse Mancini’s return. This decision would reunite Italy with a proven winner who knows the squad intimately. However, critics question whether Mancini, after a year away from Italian football, can rebuild a team that missed the 2022 World Cup and underperformed in qualifying.

The report that Mancini will be new Italy coach as Maldini and Leonardo resign also raises questions about the future of current Italy commitments. The Nazionale faces crucial Euro 2024 qualifiers, and the vacant coaching seat needs stability. Supporters point to Mancini’s tactical acumen and ability to foster team unity, while detractors recall his abrupt departure and failure to secure World Cup qualification. Nevertheless, sources close to the FIGC indicate an announcement could come within days.

In conclusion, the Italian football landscape stands at a crossroads. The resignation of two icons like Maldini and Leonardo, coupled with the potential return of Mancini, could either usher in a new era of success or exacerbate existing fractures. The report that Mancini will be new Italy coach as Maldini and Leonardo resign has dominated headlines, and all eyes are on Malagò to see if he delivers the stability Italy needs. For now, the football world waits with bated breath as this story continues to unfold.