Mancini in shock resignation as Italy coach
Italy's coach Roberto Mancini reacts and gestures during the UEFA Nations League semi final football match between Spain and Italy at the De Grolsch Veste Stadium in Enschede. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)
Roberto Mancini announced his shock resignation as coach of European champions Italy on Sunday less than a month before Euro 2024 qualifying resumes, having failed to qualify for last year's World Cup.
The Italian Football Federation said in a statement it had "received late yesterday evening" Mancini's surprise decision to step down after five years in charge.
"Because of important and close commitments for the team with Euro 2024 qualifiers against North Macedonia and Ukraine, the FIGC will announce the name of the new national coach in the next few days," the federation added.
"Thus concludes a significant page in the history of the Azzurri," the FIGC added, recalling a memorable "Euro 2020 triumph in which a group of individuals became a team".
Italy was Mancini's first international coaching job when he was appointed in May 2018 after the four-time world champions' failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, although Italian media reports are now linking him with the Saudi Arabia national team job.
A former international, Mancini won Euro 2020 with Italy but the country again missed out on a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Mancini's resignation comes as a major shock with no warning signs.
Earlier this month the 58-year-old had also been handed responsibility for the country's Under-21 and Under-20 teams.
His departure comes following recent appointments to the national coaching set-up including former Italy defender Andrea Barzagli and goalkeeping great Gianluigi Buffon.
"My resignation from the position of coach is a personal choice," Mancini wrote on Instagram. "I will never forget this extraordinary victory at the Euro… It was an honor."
The Italian press has speculated that Luciano Spalletti could be lined up as his successor after ending Napoli's 33-year wait for the Serie A title last season, before leaving his post.
Former Italy coach Antonio Conte, sacked in March by Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, and ex-world champion Fabio Cannavaro, who has coached in China and Saudi Arabia, have also been suggested.