Roberto Mancini Named Italy National Team Manager

Roberto Mancini has been named as manager of the Italy national team after agreeing to his exit from Russian powerhouse Zenit St Petersburg.

The Azzurri's official Twitter account confirmed the former Manchester City and Inter Milan boss would replace Gian Piero Ventura, who was sacked from the role after Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in November:

BBC Sport reported Mancini has agreed to a two-year deal to manage Italy, which will keep him in charge of the team until after the 2020 European Championship.

Luigi di Biagio made the move up from Italy's under-21s to coach the senior side in a caretaker role, serving for six months before the Italian Football Federation could reach an agreement on a permanent replacement.

Italian football expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Mancini's appointment prior to it being made official and added he'd be foregoing a considerable Zenit fee in order to take the role:

Mancini will take his first steps as an international manager with his native country and arrives at the Italy helm 24 years after making the last of his 36 playing appearances for the Azzurri.

However, football writer Adam Digby couldn't help but warn of the limitations he feels Mancini has as a tactician:

The 53-year-old has won major trophies with every club he's managed except for Zenit and leaves St Petersburg after leading them to fifth in the Russian Premier League this season.

However, admirers will remember more fondly his 2012 Premier League triumph with Manchester City—at the time their first top-flight title in 44 years—as well as winning three Serie A crowns with Inter between 2006 and 2008.

The disappointment of missing out on a place at this summer's World Cup left a mark on one of the world's most celebrated international sides, and Mancini now faces a repair job in restoring the nation to its former glory.

Mancini will manage the 2006 world champions for the first time on Monday, May 28, when they face Saudi Arabia in a friendly meeting before they prepare for the UEFA Nations League to get underway in September.