The sudden resignation of Roberto Mancini as Italy coach has sent shockwaves through the Calcio world, but the problems had been brewing behind the scenes for some time.
Mancini was hailed for revitalising the Azzurri after their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, transforming the playing style to a very attacking and attractive approach that resulted in a thoroughly deserved victory at EURO 2020.
Nobody will ever forget that embrace with lifelong friend Gianluca Vialli at Wembley Stadium and the trophy lifted to the sky.
However, as is so often the case with the Nazionale, success is followed by a dramatic dip that is often fuelled by the tendency to cling to the group that had been so decisive, failing to realise time ticks on and fresh blood has to be brought in.
It came to a head with the 2022 World Cup qualifying flop, something that felt painfully avoidable.
There had already been reports that assistant manager Alberico Evani had left in part due to his frustration at the presence of Leonardo Bonucci in the defence, when the Juventus man was clearly long past his best.
Evani’s departure was a huge red flag earlier in the summer, along with Mancini’s other staff members in a reshuffle that was only a few days ago with Attilio Lombardo and Nuciari moving to different roles.
Mancini was named co-ordinator of the various youth teams in a bid to create more of a through line from the Under-20 and Under-21 side to the senior squad, sharing ideas, tactical shapes and training methods.
However, rather than consolidate his grip on the identity of the Nazionale, it put even more emphasis on Mancini’s responsibility if things were to go wrong and made it impossible to avoid the finger of blame.
At least, that is one interpretation of that reshuffle. Another is that the FIGC had pushed Evani out and tried to dismantle Mancini’s staff to bring in new faces, including Andrea Barzagli and incoming Gianluigi Buffon.
Let us also not ignore the elephant in the room, which is that the last few months have been horrific on a personal level for Mancini, who lost both Vialli and Sinisa Mihajlovic – probably his closest friends and collaborators in the football world – to terminal illnesses within weeks of each other.
With all that happening and the Italian media piling on to criticise performances, choices and general approaches to the future, it is hardly that surprising Mancio should feel he doesn’t need this right now.
The Nazionale in general needs a massive overhaul, because while the Under-20 side reached the World Cup Final, the Under-21s flopped horribly and even the Women’s World Cup team crashed out in the first round.
So perhaps the role of co-ordinator is one that is needed, but created from scratch rather than based on an existing coach like Mancini. Maybe it is time to dig out that old Roberto Baggio dossier on revamping the Federation and actually implementing some of it, especially with Buffon and most likely Fabio Cannavaro ready to step up and provide guidance. So many 2006 World Cup winners are now coaches in Serie A and B, it could help to have people who have been there and done it show this generation the way.
Twitter: @SusyCampanale
It’s the right decision. Luciano spalletti or Antonio Conte who had unfinished business as the next manager. It’s a critical time with big qualifiers coming up in September. The appointment needs to be the right one. We can’t afford to not make euro 2024.
bring in a foreign coach fron germany croatia serbia or conti
go back to the old italy a wallin the back score one goal instead of trying to copy spain or germany english style continous runnig shooting at the keeper no tick tack it is working