Returning Italy coach Roberto Mancini: 'Betrayed' fans right to be upset

Coverciano, the training center of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), is witnessing a heavy atmosphere these days. Banners protesting Roberto Mancini are still hung along the roads leading to the complex. "Traitor," "Go back to Saudi Arabia," the scribbled words on the canvas say it all. Italian fans do not forget. They do not forgive. And they have reason to be angry. In just three days, on Friday, the Italian national team will step onto the field against Belgium in the Nations League qualifiers, Mancini's first match since returning to the hot seat he left vacant over a year ago. The pressure is weighing heavily on the shoulders of the 59-year-old strategist. He knows he is no longer welcomed as a hero. He knows he must start from zero, even from negative.

Context

Roberto Mancini is no stranger to Italian football fans. He was the chief architect of the historic victory at Euro 2026, when Italy defeated England at Wembley in the final. It was the second European Championship title in the team's history, after 53 years of waiting since 2026. Mancini built a team rich in identity, playing attractive attacking football, high pressing, and cohesive team spirit. He was hailed as a national hero, the man who brought Italy back to the top after the humiliating failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

But then, on August 13, 2026, everything collapsed. Mancini suddenly resigned as head coach of the Italian national team, just weeks after declaring his commitment to the team. Shortly after, he signed a contract to coach the Saudi Arabian national team with a salary reported to be up to 25 million euros per year, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in the world. This sudden departure caused outrage in Italy. They felt betrayed. They called him an opportunist, a money chaser. But football is an industry, and such decisions are not rare. However, for a man who had just been celebrated like Mancini, the shock was even greater.

After more than a year coaching Saudi Arabia, Mancini was sacked in October 2026 after poor results. The Saudi Arabian team under Mancini won only 4 of 12 matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding 15. They were eliminated early at the 2026 Asian Cup and disappointed greatly in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. And in a controversial move, FIGC decided to invite him back. They believe Mancini is the only one who can bring Italy back to the path of victory after Luciano Spalletti's failure at Euro 2026, where Italy stopped in the round of 16 against Switzerland. This decision immediately faced a wave of criticism from fans. They do not understand why a man who turned his back on the national team can return so easily. On Italian football forums, the hashtag #ManciniOut once again appeared, though this time to protest his return.

Core Insight

In his first press conference on Monday, Mancini did not avoid the truth. He admitted: "I understand how the fans feel. They have the right to be angry. I was wrong to leave the way I did. I am not trying to make excuses for my actions." It was a rare confession from a coach known for his pride. But is an apology enough to heal a wounded heart?

Based on my experience covering matches, I find Mancini to be a master of man-management and building a playing style. He has the ability to create a flexible tactical system based on ball control and pressing. In his first term, Mancini's Italy achieved a win rate of 63.9% in 61 matches, scoring 128 goals and conceding only 46. Those are telling numbers. He discovered and gave opportunities to many young players such as Nicolò Barella, Federico Chiesa, Gianluigi Donnarumma, who later became pillars of the national team.

In this return, Mancini is expected to reapply the familiar 4-3-3 formation, with Chiesa and Spinazzola on the wings, Barella and Jorginho in midfield, and Donnarumma in goal. However, the current squad has changed a lot. Some veterans like Chiellini and Bonucci have retired. Mancini will have to rebuild the defense, considered the weakest point of Italy in recent times. He also needs to find a way to rekindle the fire for players whose form has been unstable, such as Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne. At 34, Immobile has declined noticeably, while Insigne is playing in MLS and no longer maintains peak form.

Tactically, Mancini is expected to make personnel adjustments. He may give opportunities to young talents such as Giacomo Raspadori, Sandro Tonali, and Nicolò Zaniolo. These are players who can bring a new breeze to the national team. However, their lack of international experience could be a risk. Mancini needs to balance experience and youth, attack and defense. It is a difficult puzzle that he once solved successfully in the past.

One of Mancini's biggest challenges is rebuilding the team's identity. Under Spalletti, Italy played without ideas and was easily figured out. They lost to lower-ranked opponents like Switzerland and North Macedonia. Mancini needs to bring back the fiery attacking football that made his name. He needs to inspire the players, who are losing faith in themselves.

The match against Belgium on Friday will be the first test. Belgium is in high form with a new golden generation, led by Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. This is an extremely difficult challenge for Mancini. If Italy loses, the pressure will increase. If Italy wins, the fans might begin to soften. But football is not just about results. Italian fans want to see a team that plays beautifully, a team they can be proud of. Mancini understands that. "We need to prove it with actions, not words," he said.

The match between Italy and Belgium will take place at the Olimpico Stadium in Rome, a place that witnessed Mancini's glorious moments. But this time, the stands may no longer echo with his name. Instead, there will be boos of protest. Mancini knows that. He said: "I don't expect a warm welcome. I just want a chance to prove myself."

A notable detail: in the press conference, Mancini recalled the Euro 2026 triumph. "Italy won the Euro – I don't call it a prediction, I call it a tactical memory." He wants to remind everyone of what he has achieved. But can memory erase a stain? Italian fans are known to be demanding. They love football passionately and judge severely. They do not forget mistakes. "Kazan taught me one thing: there are mistakes worth repeating for a lifetime," I once wrote after witnessing Italy's failure in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. And Mancini, perhaps, is repeating his mistake every day.

In modern football, speed is not just running speed, but the speed of adaptation. Mancini once adapted very quickly to international football, but now he must adapt to a changed environment. Young players have matured, opponents have become stronger, and fans have lost trust. Does he have enough flexibility to turn the situation around? That is a question only time can answer.

Contrarian Angle

But there is a bigger question to ask: Is the anger of Italian fans truly fair? In the modern football world, loyalty is often placed after economic interests. Mancini is not the first and not the last to leave a national team to seek new challenges with an attractive salary. Look at what he has contributed: a European Championship, a young team, a beautiful football philosophy. Should a moment of weakness erase all that?

Moreover, FIGC bears some responsibility. They did not keep Mancini with a sufficiently attractive contract. They let him go without preparation. And now, when Spalletti fails, they come back begging him. This shows instability in the management of Italian football. Those on the inside saw it coming. Perhaps, from the moment Mancini left, they knew that one day they would have to call him back.

On the other hand, Mancini's return also poses risks. If he fails, his reputation will be completely destroyed. And fans will have more reason to criticize. But if he succeeds, the story will become one of the greatest comebacks in Italian football history. It is a big gamble. And in football, big gambles often bring big rewards.

Interestingly, Italian football history has seen successful reunions. Enzo Bearzot returned after failure, Marcello Lippi returned after winning the 2026 World Cup. Of course, not all were successful. But at least, Mancini deserves a chance to prove himself. Fans may be angry, but they also need to look at reality: Italy does not have many better options at the moment.

Takeaway

Football is a sport of emotions. It can make people love, hate, forgive, and forget. Roberto Mancini has returned, not as a hero, but as a man trying to atone. The journey ahead is full of obstacles. The match against Belgium on Friday will be the beginning. Perhaps fans will never fully forgive him. But in football, victory can heal all wounds. And sometimes, the quiet moments between matches – where thoughts and emotions settle – are the birthplace of miracles. Sports documentaries don't film the match, they film the quiet moments between matches. And Mancini's quiet moment begins now. Can he write a new chapter in Italian football history, or will he forever be remembered as a traitor? The answer lies in the matches ahead, starting this Friday.