Italy appoint Luciano Spalletti as new manager

Italy have appointed former Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti as their new national team manager.

The 64-year-old has penned a contract until after the 2026 World Cup and will begin work in charge of the Azzurri on September 1.

Spelletti has replaced Roberto Mancini who surprisingly announced his resignation due to "personal" reasons last weekend after five years in charge of Italy.

Both Spalettii and former Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte emerged as the frontrunners for the vacancy earlier this week, and the Euro 2020 champions have decided to appoint the former following a successful Scudetto-winning season in charge of Napoli in 2022-23.

A statement from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) read: "The Italian Football Federation announces that it has reached an agreement with Luciano Spalletti for the position of Technical Commissioner of the Italian National Team.

"The Tuscan coach will take office starting from 1 September 2023 and the official presentation will take place on the occasion of the Azzurri meeting, scheduled for the first days of September, at the Federal Technical Center of Coverciano.

⚽️ 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶 è il nuovo 𝗖𝗧 della #Nazionale 🇮🇹

🗣 Gravina: "Il suo entusiasmo e la sua competenza saranno fondamentali"

📄 Il comunicato 👉🏻 https://t.co/mnthIscXWw#Spalletti #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/aw8yT4TVML

— Nazionale Italiana ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri) August 18, 2023

Commenting on Spalletti's appointment, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said: "We welcome Spalletti, the national team needed a great coach and I am very happy that he accepted the technical guidance of the Azzurri.

"His enthusiasm and expertise will be fundamental for the challenges that await Italy in the coming months".

After guiding Napoli to their first Serie A title in over three decades last season, Spalletti decided to step down from his post in May just two years into his reign after requesting to take a year-long sabbatical.

However, Spalletti has decided to return to management and take his first international coaching role having spent the last 30 years managing 10 different clubs including Empoli, Roma, Zenit St Petersburg, Inter Milan and Napoli.

Spalletti will take charge of his first game as Italy manager on September 9 away against North Macedonia in a Euro 2024 qualifier, before welcoming Ukraine to Milan three days later.