Ranieri: Reinstilling Passion for Football in Italians Starts from the Academies… Mancini’s Return Redraws the Contours of the Azzurri ProjectClaudio Ranieri, the new technical director of the Italian Football Federation, has delivered his first public message after taking office. He emphasized that the main mission in the coming period is to revive the passion for football within Italian society through a comprehensive reform of the academies and the development of talents.Ranieri’s return comes after his retirement, as he takes direct responsibility for overseeing various levels of Italian football, in addition to the academies spread across the country. This move reflects the federation’s desire to build a long-term project that restores the Azzurri to their historic status. Background of the Position… and Maldini’s Quick DepartureJust three weeks ago, Paolo Maldini held the same position, but the experience ended quickly due to sharp disagreements over the identity of the new national team coach.With his departure, Roberto Mancini returned to coach the Italian national team after three years away, and he was officially introduced at a joint press conference with Ranieri. Ranieri’s Statements… A Clear and Direct VisionAccording to Football Italia, Ranieri, who appeared enthusiastic about the mission despite its difficulty, said:
“This is a crowning moment in my career. I couldn’t believe it when I saw Giovanni Malagò calling me… I was on the beach, and you can tell that from my tanned skin. I know the situation will be difficult, but my experience as a coach helps me deal with challenges. I have never backed down.”
He added, explaining the essence of the project:
“There are two essential things: First, we must make people fall in love with football again. Second, children like my grandson (12 years old) should be able to watch Italy in the World Cup… something he has never done before.”
