Claudio Ranieri appointed technical director of Club Italia, pledges to revive Italian football

Claudio Ranieri has been appointed technical director of Club Italia, the governing body of Italian football. In the role he will not serve as national‑team selector but will coordinate the senior side, the clubs and all youth academies across the country. Ranieri will work alongside newly appointed national‑team head coach Roberto Mancini and was introduced together with Club Italia president Giovanni Malago.

Ranieri said two priorities must be addressed before the next World Cup: “We must make the Italian people fall in love with football again, and we must give children – like my 12‑year‑old grandson – the chance to see Italy at the World Cup.” He highlighted the need to reform football schools, reduce costs for families and create a system that nurtures talent rather than limiting participation. The former Leicester and Roma manager, who briefly retired before returning to football, pledged to use his experience to rebuild the academy network and restore Italy’s footballing success.

His appointment follows a previous plan by Paolo Maldini that was abandoned, and the new strategy aims to restore Italy’s ability to produce world‑class players and re‑engage supporters ahead of upcoming international competitions.