Roberto Mancini

Roberto Mancini was born on November 27, 1964, in Jesi, Italy. His playing career began in Serie A with Bologna in 1981. He later moved to Sampdoria in 1982, where he spent 15 years and became a central figure. As a deep-lying forward, he formed a memorable partnership with Gianluca Vialli, earning them the nickname ‘The Goal Twins’. During his time at Sampdoria, he won their only Serie A league title in 1991, four Coppa Italia titles, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1990. After Sampdoria, Mancini joined Lazio in 1997, adding another Scudetto and two Coppa Italia titles to his playing achievements. By the end of his playing career, Mancini had secured six Coppa Italia titles, making him one of the most decorated players in the competition’s history.

Mancini transitioned into management in 2001, taking his first role at Fiorentina at just 36 years old. Despite financial challenges, he led the club to a Coppa Italia win in his first season. He then managed Lazio from 2002 to 2004, where he secured another Coppa Italia title. His tenure at Inter Milan, from 2004 to 2008, saw significant success, including three consecutive Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia wins. After a brief period out of football, Mancini took charge of Manchester City in December 2009. He ended the club’s 35-year trophy drought by winning the FA Cup in the 2010–11 season, followed by their first Premier League title in 44 years in the 2011–12 season.

Following his departure from Manchester City in 2013, Mancini managed Galatasaray, winning the Turkish Cup in his single season there. He returned to Inter Milan for a second spell from 2014 to 2016 before moving to Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2017. In 2018, Mancini was appointed manager of the Italy national football team. He guided Italy to a remarkable victory in UEFA Euro 2020, achieving a 37-match unbeaten streak, a world record for consecutive international matches without defeat. Although Italy later failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Mancini’s impact on the national team was significant. He subsequently managed the Saudi Arabia national team from 2023 to 2024.