Italy coach Roberto Mancini has been given a contract extension until 2026, which will see him remain in charge of the men’s national football team for the next two World Cups (Qatar 2022 and USA, Canada & Mexico 2026).
Italy won all 10 of their games in the Euro 2020 qualifiers and will kick-off the Euro 2020 finals against a tricky Turkey side on 11th June 2021.
The announcement by the Italian Football Federation came three weeks before Italy play Turkey in Rome to open the European Championship finals.
Mancini led Italy to a perfect 10 wins in qualifying for the Euros. He was appointed in 2018 after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the Russia FIFA World Cup under Gian Piero Ventura.
“It gives me a lot of satisfaction that people like the squad we’ve put together and I’m optimistic for the future,” Mancini said.
“Over the next year, we’ll have the Euros, the Nations League finals, and the World Cup. The goal is to win – while realising that it won’t be easy and that it will also require some luck.”
Italy will also host the Nations League final four in October 2021. The Azzurri will face Spain in the semifinal, with France playing Belgium in the other.
Mancini’s previous contract was due to expire after the 2022 World Cup so this is a significant vote of confidence showing by Italy in the man who led Manchester City to their first ever Premier League title.
