Claudio Ranieri named Italy Technical Director as FIGC reshuffles after 18-day crisis

Claudio Ranieri has been appointed as the new Technical Director and President of Club Italia at the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), marking the veteran manager's first role within the national team setup. The 74-year-old answered FIGC President Giovanni Malagò's call immediately, cutting short his retirement in the Calabrian coastal town of Stalettì to take on what he described as "the last great challenge" of his storied career.

Ranieri's appointment was announced alongside Roberto Mancini's return as head coach (CT) of the Azzurri, bringing an end to 18 days of turmoil at the FIGC. The saga began on 11 July when Paolo Maldini was named Technical Director with Leonardo as advisor, a duo that pursued an ambitious plan to land Pep Guardiola as head coach. Guardiola ultimately declined, opening the door for Andrea Pirlo — until a sponsorship controversy involving Russian betting site Fonbet derailed his candidacy. Maldini and Leonardo left the federation on Monday, clearing the path for Mancini's return and Ranieri's appointment.

Ranieri, who led Leicester City to their historic 2015-16 Premier League title and most recently kept Cagliari in Serie A, had previously been forced to turn down the Italy head coach role while managing Roma because the club's ownership would not permit a dual mandate. Now free from club commitments, he will work behind the scenes to overhaul the federation's technical department.

"Ranieri will be much more than an ambassador for the national team," wrote Gazzetta dello Sport's Roberto Maida. "He will enjoy full decision-making autonomy in reorganising his area of competence." Among Ranieri's first priorities is reportedly bringing Gianfranco Zola — whom he coached at Chelsea during his first spell in English football — into the project as a collaborator.

Malagò confirmed the appointments with characteristic bluntness, stating that Mancini was "the best possible CT choice" and that Ranieri's experience and stature made him the ideal figure to rebuild Italy's football infrastructure from the ground up. The federation is expected to undergo a comprehensive restructuring under Ranieri's guidance, with a focus on unifying Italian football's traditionally fractious landscape.

Ranieri, who had spoken of retiring to "sit on a park bench with my grandchildren," now faces perhaps his most complex assignment yet — not on the touchline, but as the architect of Italian football's revival ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Sources

• Gazzetta dello Sport — "L'ultima missione di Ranieri: aggiustare l'Italia. Dal progetto all'idea Zola"
• Gazzetta dello Sport — "Figc, 18 giorni di caos: Ancelotti, Guardiola, Pirlo per poi tornare a Mancini. Cosa è successo"