Euro 2020-winning boss Roberto Mancini, 61, agrees to RETURN as Italy manager after Guardiola & Pirlo deals collapsed

ROBERTO MANCINI will make a sensational return to the Italy dugout – after Andrea Pirlo’s appointment was blocked. The Azzurri have been looking for a new boss since Gennaro Gattuso resigned in April. Roberto Mancini has agreed to become Italy’s new boss Credit: Splash The former Manchester City chief guided the Azzurri to Euro 2020 glory Credit: Getty Mancini, 61, has agreed to make a stunning comeback after Italy hit roadblocks during their managerial search. The former Manchester City chief previously had a five-year spell in charge of his homeland. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Meanwhile Claudio Ranieri, another Premier League winner, will take the job of technical director. The 74-year-old, who led Leicester to an unlikely title in 2016, has been out of work since leaving his role as special advisor with Roma in April. Italian Football Federation president Giovanni Malago announced the decision today. He said: “I believed that the best person ​to become head coach was Roberto Mancini.” Confirming Ranieri’s appointment, he added: “I needed someone with whom I could share the decision on the coach, because without that shared view my reasoning would ⁠have ​carried little weight. “So consequently, today we have ​a new coach and a new technical director for Italy.” Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Claudio Ranieri is set to take the role of technical director Credit: Getty Mancini masterminded Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph – which saw them beat England in a nail-biting penalty shootout in the final. He has gone on to boss the Saudi Arabian national team and Al-Sadd since quitting the job. But Mancini walked away from the Qatar Stars League champions last month – giving Italy a chance to pounce. The Azzurri’s search for Gattuso’s replacement took a shock twist yesterday. Italian Football Federation president Giovanni Malago refused to give Pirlo’s appointment the green light after his role as a brand ambassador for a Russing betting company emerged. And the unexpected U-turn led to technical director Paolo Maldini and adviser Leonardo quitting after just 16 DAYS in their respective roles. Italy also failed to convince Pep Guardiola to step into the breach when they held talks earlier this month. The legendary chief, who was available after leaving Man City at the end of last season, demanded a deal which would have seen him pocket an eye-watering £17MILLION-a-year. Andrea Pirlo’s appointment was blocked Credit: Alamy Talks were held with Pep Guardiola Credit: PA Mancini will be tasked with getting the best out of a squad which failed to qualify for a third World Cup on the spin. Italy missed out on heading to North America after losing a play-off to Bosnia and Herzegovina on spot-kicks. Mancini has enjoyed a trophy-laden managerial career which has seen him win three Serie A titles and become a Premier League champion. His first showdown at the helm will come against Belgium in the Nations League on September 25. 1 comment1