Roberto Mancini is back in charge of Italy for a second stint as head coach, tasked with reviving a national team stuck in one of its darkest spells, according to Sky Sports.
The 60-year-old previously guided the Azzurri to Euro 2020 glory, but Italy have since missed out on the last three World Cups running—a staggering fall from grace for a four-time world champion. Mancini's return comes as the federation looks to him to spark a youth-driven revolution and restore Italy's standing on the global stage.
Sky Sports' Sam Blitz, drawing on exclusive insight from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, examines whether Mancini can recapture the magic of his first spell and lead a new generation of Italian talent back to major tournament relevance. The scale of the rebuilding job is significant, with questions remaining over squad depth and the mentality shift needed after years of underachievement.
Whether this "sequel" can match the drama of Mancini's original triumph remains to be seen, but his appointment signals Italy's determination to end its qualification drought and reassert itself as a genuine contender once more.