In a shocking development on Sunday, long-serving Italy boss Roberto Mancini has handed his resignation only ten months ahead of Euro 2024. According to Fabrizio Romano, the 58-year-old tactician left the national team, effective immediately, under unrevealed circumstances.
Mancini took charge of Italy in 2018 after a season-long stint at Zenit St Petersburg. Gli Azzurri were in complete disarray at the time of his appointment, having just missed out on World Cup qualification for the first time since 1958. However, he steadied the ship quickly.
Only three years after a 2018 World Cup qualifying heartache, Italy climbed to the top of Europe in a delayed Euro 2020. Mancini’s team defied the odds to beat England in the Wembley showpiece and take home their first European Championship title since 1968.
Fortunes reversed after a memorable continental success as Italy failed to advance to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Unfazed by being reduced to a spectator role in back-to-back World Cups, Italy reached the Nations League Finals twice under Mancini.
Despite coming third in 2021 and 2023, Mancini proved his managerial credentials. His departure from the national team leaves Italy with a huge decision to make. Gli Azzurri experienced a mixed start to their Euro 2024 qualification campaign under the ex-Inter manager.
After a 2-1 loss to England in a curtain-raising Group C, Italy returned to the winning path with a 2-0 triumph at Malta last time out. But it will be up to someone else to finish what Mancini started.
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