Did the elimination from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar still have an effect? In any case, the coach of reigning European champions Italy, Roberto Mancini, has surprisingly announced his resignation.

Roberto Mancini has surprisingly resigned as national coach of European football champions Italy. The 58-year-old handed in his resignation on Saturday evening after a good five years, the Italian football association said – without giving a reason for the withdrawal.

The federation plans to name a successor for the former international in the coming days. Mancini had led Italy to the 2021 European Championship title.and thereby celebrated the greatest success with the Azzurri since the 2006 World Cup title. However, the Squadra Azzurra failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Nevertheless, the national team recovered shortly afterwards and reached the final tournament of the Nations League. After losing to Spain in the semi-finals, Italy finished third in the competition.

Luciano Spalletti, most recently the champion coach of SSC Napoli, and the also contractless former national coach Antonio Conte, who was sacked by Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur last March, are being considered as successors.