Rivera: 'I didn't agree when Italy called Malagò, even less when Mancini came back'
Legendary former Italian footballer and politician Gianni Rivera has voiced strong criticism of recent FIGC decisions. Rivera stated he disagreed when Italian football turned to CONI president Giovanni Malagò for guidance, and expressed even stronger opposition to Roberto Mancini's return as Azzurri head coach. The comments reflect ongoing debate within Italian football circles about the direction of the national team setup and the political dynamics around coaching appointments. Rivera's intervention adds a prominent voice to the scrutiny surrounding the federation's leadership choices.
Read the full story at football-italia.netRivera's intervention is the latest chapter in Italy's turbulent post-Euro 2024 era, where coaching instability has become a defining theme. The fact that a figure of Rivera's stature — a Ballon d'Or winner turned institutional voice — is publicly questioning both the sporting and political layers of FIGC decision-making underscores how deep the frustration runs. With Mancini's second tenure ending abruptly and Luciano Spalletti now in charge, the federation faces a credibility test ahead of the next international window, and dissent from respected former figures only raises the pressure on Gravina and the coaching staff to deliver results quickly.
Context added by Socc360, not by football-italia.net.
Data source: football-italia.net (via Socc360). Last updated .
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