Rome, July 28, 2026
Return After Three Years
The news marks the provisional end of a roughly four-month search for a new national team coach. The post of "Commissario Tecnico" – the official title – had been vacant since early April, after Gennaro Gattuso resigned following the failed World Cup qualification against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mancini returns to the coaching position after three years in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Initially, three years ago, he had suddenly departed for Saudi Arabia as team manager despite having an existing contract. With the Saudis, however, he lasted only 14 months. Due to the disappointing sporting record, Mancini and the Saudi federation ended their collaboration amicably in October 2024. He stayed, however, for only a little over a year. Then he moved – certainly also for good money – to Qatar to the club al-Sadd, where he most recently became national champion with Al-Sadd. In Qatar, Mancini had most recently become national champion with Al-Sadd.