Before Pirlo was considered, the FIGC sounded out Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti about taking the Italy job.
Mancini, 61, previously coached Italy from 2018 to 2023, winning Euro 2020 after defeating England at Wembley. He guided the Azzurri to a world-record 37-match unbeaten run but failed to reach the 2022 World Cup after a play-off loss to North Macedonia, resigning in August 2023.
Another World Cup play-off setback earlier this year kept Italy out of this summer’s tournament and led to the end of Gattuso’s spell, with his contract mutually terminated in April. Despite success on major stages, Italy have not appeared at a World Cup finals since 2014. Under-21 coach Silvio Baldini stepped in as interim after Gattuso’s exit.
A former Italy and Sampdoria midfielder, Mancini delivered Manchester City’s first Premier League title in 2012 and won trophies with Lazio and Inter, lifting the Coppa Italia with both and three Serie A crowns with Inter. He later managed Galatasaray and Zenit St Petersburg before taking over Italy in 2018. After leaving the Azzurri, he had a brief stint with Saudi Arabia before joining Al Sadd, where they won the Qatar Stars League but missed the AFC Champions League Elite final four and lost the Qatar Cup final. Mancini left Al Sadd in June.
Italy open their Nations League campaign on 25 September at home to Belgium, then travel to face Turkey three days later.