Ranieri reveals Italy job offer came on the beach as new FIGC chief targets World Cup return

Claudio Ranieri has revealed he was relaxing on a beach when he received the call to become the Italian Football Federation’s new sporting director – and says his twin missions are to reconnect the country with the national team and take Italy back to the World Cup.

The 72-year-old was officially presented by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) after being appointed as sporting director, replacing Paolo Maldini, who resigned just 15 days after taking the role.

Ranieri spoke alongside newly appointed Italy head coach Roberto Mancini at a press conference unveiling the pair in their new positions.

“When I saw a call from Giovanni Malago, the president of the federation, I couldn’t believe it,” Ranieri said. “I was on the beach. It will take a lot of work in these difficult circumstances, but my career speaks for itself.”

The former Leicester City manager made clear he had no hesitation about accepting the job and set out two clear priorities for his tenure.

“I have never backed down,” he continued. “There are two important things for me: firstly, to make Italians fall in love with the national team again, and secondly, to give children the chance to watch the national team at the World Cup.”

Italy miss third straight World Cup

Ranieri steps into the role at a time of deep uncertainty for the Azzurri after Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the third successive edition of the tournament they will miss.

The FIGC has turned to Ranieri and Mancini to lead a reset of the national-team structure and mentality following that failure, with both men tasked with different but connected responsibilities.

Ranieri stressed that while he is available to support Mancini, his own job will be wide-ranging and focused on long-term reform.

“If Roberto Mancini wants to ask me for advice, I will be there,” he said. “But I have a lot of other things to do.”

Youth development at the heart of Ranieri’s plan

Ranieri said the key to rebuilding Italy’s future lies in reshaping how young players are developed.

“We have to work hard from the age of ten until fourteen or fifteen,” he explained. “We have to help them.”

He believes structural and financial issues around grassroots football are discouraging children from taking up or continuing with the game.

“In early June I was in Cagliari and I learned that children are spending a huge amount of money,” he said. “We cannot afford that; we have to understand how the youth system works, we have to bring them back to playing football.”

Ranieri argued that while Italy’s youth national teams are competitive, progressing prospects into the senior side remains a major challenge.

“Italian youth national teams are doing well, but the last step is the most difficult,” he said. “We have to find a way to achieve that. We are very good tactically, but we have to work on individual skills. Our youth coaches do not do that because they want to win.”

Dividing responsibilities with Mancini

Ranieri acknowledged there is no quick fix for Italy’s problems and said both he and Mancini face distinct tasks.

“It is difficult to say how long it will take,” he admitted. “Roberto has to solve the problem on the pitch, and I have to solve the hidden problems.”

Those “hidden problems” involve everything from accessibility and costs at grassroots level to the transition from youth to senior football, an area Ranieri has repeatedly highlighted as critical to Italy’s long-term success.

Upcoming fixtures under Mancini

Italy will begin their Nations League campaign against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico on 25 September, the first competitive test of the new era under Mancini, with Ranieri working behind the scenes.

The Azzurri will then start their European qualifying campaign for Euro 2028 in March 2027.

Mancini has previously enjoyed success with the national side, guiding Italy to the Euro 2020 title and to third place in the Nations League at the expense of the Netherlands.

Ranieri’s arrival signals the FIGC’s intention to pair that coaching pedigree with an experienced figure charged with reshaping the system that feeds the national team, as Italy attempt to ensure that missing out on future World Cups does not become a recurring reality.