Roberto Mancini vowed to make amends for abandoning the Italian national team in 2023 when he was presented as the Azzurri's new coach on Wednesday.
    "The national team jersey is a bit like the woman of your life—if you lose it, you've done something wrong," the former Sampdoria and Lazio forward told a news conference, apologizing for his decision to leave the Italy bench three years ago to embark on a lucrative but unsuccessful stint as coach of Saudi Arabia.
    "Now I have the chance to make things right.
    "I'll do everything I can to take the national team back to where it belongs.
    "I'll try to get the national team to play well, so that the fans forgive me".
    The Azzurri won Euro 2020 in 2021 with Mancini on the bench but they also failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup under him.
    Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) President Giovanni Malagò turned to Mancini after blocking the appointment' of Andrea Pirlo to the job over his sponsorship of Russian betting agency Fonbet.
    Paolo Maldini quit as the FIGC's technical director and advisor Leonardo stepped down Monday after just 16 days in their positions due to Pirlo's 'non-appointment'.
    Former Leicester City and AS Roma boss Claudio Ranieri has replaced Maldini as the FIGC's technical director.
    The head coach position had been vacant since Gennaro Gattuso stepped down following Italy's failure to qualify for this year's World Cup, meaning the Azzurri missed out on the tournament for the third consecutive time.

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