Claudio Ranieri Appointed Technical Director for Italy National Team

Claudio Ranieri has been named the new technical director for the Italian national team. At almost 75 years old, the esteemed manager has once again been enticed out of retirement.

While the main focus of the FIGC President Giovanni Malagò's announcement was Roberto Mancini's return for his second tenure as Italy's coach, Ranieri's appointment as technical director is equally significant. This role, established this summer, was previously held by Paolo Maldini for a short period.

Ranieri to Lead Italy's Project

This newly established position is designed to mirror similar roles in other national teams, encompassing oversight of the senior squad as well as all youth levels down to national academies. The aim is to provide the Nazionale with a more robust identity and a sustainable long-term structure that can endure coaching changes.

Ranieri, who turns 75 in October, has previously retired from coaching twice. He initially announced his retirement in June 2024 after successfully guiding Cagliari to Serie A safety. However, he was persuaded to return to the bench in November 2024 by his beloved AS Roma, whom he steered away from the relegation zone and to the brink of Champions League qualification.

Following his departure from coaching, Ranieri remained with Roma as a management consultant but was dismissed in April 2026 due to significant disagreements with coach Gian Piero Gasperini. It seemed his retirement would be permanent this time, but a sense of duty towards the Italian national team has once again called him back.

His return to Roma was met with playful comparisons to a "Batman signal," humorously highlighting the recurring calls for him to emerge from his comfortable retirement.

Ranieri's extensive coaching career began in 1986 with Vigor Lamezia. He has since managed numerous clubs, including Napoli, Fiorentina, Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Juventus, Inter, AS Monaco, and famously, Leicester City. At Leicester, he achieved the improbable by winning the Premier League in 2016, a historic triumph that remains one of the most unexpected in football history.

He also had a brief international coaching stint with the Greek national team, managing them for four games between July and November 2014, concluding after a home defeat to the Faroe Islands.

Throughout his career, Ranieri has amassed several accolades, including a Premier League title, a UEFA Super Cup, a Spanish Cup, a Coppa Italia, and a Supercoppa Italiana.