Yahoo Sports Mancini admits leaving Italy national team ‘was a mistake’
Roberto Mancini has admitted that the decision to resign from his position as head coach of the Italy national team ‘was a mistake’ and ‘one that I wouldn’t make again’, while also reflecting on his biggest regrets with the Azzurri in an interview published on his 60th birthday.
Mancini, who is celebrating his 60th birthday on Wednesday, gave an in-depth interview to Il Giornale, during which he spoke about his playing career, steps into management and his time in Serie A and with Italy.
The EURO 2020 winner resigned from his position as head coach of the Italy national team in the summer of 2023 and was subsequently replaced by Luciano Spalletti.
Mancini took up the role as head coach of the Saudi Arabia national team shortly after his Italy departure, but reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract at the end of October, 2024.
Mancini: ‘Leaving Italy was a mistake’
“Leaving the Italy national team was a mistake and one that I wouldn’t make again,” Mancini said while reflecting on his time with the Azzurri in his Giornale interview.
The 60-year-old was reportedly on a lucrative deal in Saudi Arabia, but the coach claims that he was not earning as much as what was reported in the press, and suggests that money was only a minor factor in his decision to leave the his position with the Azzurri.
“I don’t deny that, for a coach, the offer of such a high sum, even if it is lower than what was reported in the newspapers, puts you in a tricky spot. But it wasn’t decisive. It had an impact, but it wasn’t only for that reason that I left the national team dugout.”
Mancini reflects on his highs and lows with Italy
Mancini’s spell in charge of the national team came with its ups and downs. The Azzurri won EURO 2020 at Wembley against England under his tenure, but also failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Mancini admitted that those are the definitive high and low points of his Italy career.
“(There were) some difficulties at the beginning, then a series of victories and records that I’m proud of,” he said.
“Bringing Italy back to the top of Europe after 50 years was an indescribable feeling.”
Failing to qualify for the World Cup was: “A wound that still burns,” though.
