ROME: Luciano Spalletti, who led Napoli to the Serie A title last season, will be the new head coach of European champions Italy, the country’s football federation (FIGC) said on Friday, replacing Roberto Mancini who unexpectedly resigned on Aug 13 after five years in the job.

Spalletti, 64, led Napoli last season to their first Serie A title in 33 years, crowning a long club management career that has included spells at AS Roma, Inter Milan, and a five-year stint with Russian club Zenit St Petersburg.

He stepped aside from the Napoli job in May after requesting a sabbatical and was replaced by Frenchman Rudi Garcia.

The FIGC said in a statement they had “reached an agreement with Luciano Spalletti for the position of coach of the Italian national team starting from September 1”.

“Let’s welcome Spalletti,” said FIGC president Gabriele Gravina. “The national team needed a great coach and I’m very happy that he accepted the technical guidance of the Azzurri. “His enthusiasm and his expertise will be fundamental for the challenges that await Italy in the coming months.”

Spalletti’s official presentation will take place at the national training centre at Coverciano, near Florence, before Euro 2024 qualifiers against North Macedonia and Ukraine, the FIGC said.

Italy are currently third in Group ‘C’ on three points from two matches, trailing Ukraine on six points from three games. England lead the group with 12 points after four matches.

The 64-year-old Tuscan will be in charge of reviving the national team which, despite winning the European title in 2021, failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Mancini, in charge since May 2018, resigned citing “a personal decision” and has been touted for the post of coach of Saudi Arabia.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2023