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ROME, Italy, July 28 (Reuters) - Italy has reappointed Roberto Mancini for a second spell as national team coach, Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President Giovanni Malago confirmed on Tuesday during a Federal Council meeting. Mancini returns to the role to replace Gennaro Gattuso, who left in April following a World Cup qualifying defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina, a result that marked the third consecutive time the four-times world champions failed to reach the tournament. Malago told reporters he believed Mancini was the best person to become head coach, and formally confirmed the appointment at a subsequent press conference. The 61-year-old previously guided Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 and led the national side in 58 matches during his first tenure, having earlier managed club teams including Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Manchester City, where he secured the Premier League title in the 2011-12 season. ROME, Italy, July 28 (Reuters) - Malago also announced that Claudio Ranieri will become FIGC technical director, replacing Paolo Maldini, who resigned on Monday along with adviser Leonardo after their preferred candidate for head coach, Andrea Pirlo, was ruled out over links to a Russian betting firm. Ranieri, 74, famously steered Leicester City to an unexpected English Premier League title in 2016 and will now oversee technical operations and elite football development across Italy's national team structures. Malago said he wanted a technical director with whom he could share the key decisions around the coaching role, adding that Italy now has both a new coach and a new technical chief following a month in which the FIGC also saw its first-choice candidate, Pep Guardiola, decline the opportunity to lead the national side.

By Lauren Mitchell | JQJO News