There were four names leading the shortlist for Manchester United in their efforts to secure a new manager for this summer, but just as the process was gathering momentum a new option has emerged for the Old Trafford decision-makers.
Given his history on the other side of the town, it might be that Roberto Mancini’s name is discarded as quickly as it’s added, but he is worthy of consideration in a process that United just have to get right. Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag have been the leading contenders to land the job for months, with Julen Lopetegui also under consideration, as is Spain boss Luis Enrique, although the World Cup this winter makes that appointment an unlikely one.
Mancini has no such commitments now after Italy’s astonishing play-off defeat to North Macedonia on Thursday night, depriving the Azzurri of yet another World Cup. It’s hard to gauge how much of the blame for this stunning failure to qualify to lay at the door of Mancini, but it’s less than 12 months since he was guiding Italy to the title of European champions.
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Speaking after last night’s defeat in Palermo, Mancini said of his future: “We will see. I think everyone is too disappointed right now to talk about the future.”
There must be a possibility that he will now seek a return to club management and while recency bias might see him remembered for overseeing this failure, his Italy side were the outstanding team in Europe for most of his tenure and played some outstanding football on their way to winning Euro 2020.
Mancini’s side were the best team in that tournament and - in a shift from previous Italian sides - played the best football as well. There was rotation in midfield, attacking incision from full-back and a frontline full of guile and goals.
They were excellent to watch and played more like a club side than an international team, which given the limited time available with the players is a triumph of coaching. So fluid and smooth did they become that Mancini's Italy earned the nickname tikiitalia.
Italy played football as enterprising as Ajax under Ten Hag or any of Pochettino’s sides, so Mancini shouldn’t be written off as a defensive specialist. There will also be a reaction amongst some sceptics to write him off as yesterday’s man, but at 57 he is only five years older than Ten Hag.
Mancini’s managerial CV is certainly far beyond Ten Hag, Pochettino or Lopetegui. Alongside winning the European Championship with Italy, he has won Serie A three times and, of course, the Premier League with Manchester City.
His experience of working at the Etihad gives him Premier League experience and having worked at Inter Milan and Galatasaray and taken charge of Italy, he won’t be fazed by the glare of the spotlight at Old Trafford.
He’s also proven himself to be a tough operator during his career. He has the character to manage the profile of players at United and also put an end to any sense of the players holding the power in the dressing room.
There will also be doubts and question marks, of course, as there are over most of the candidates in the running for the job. Mancini can be a volatile character, his last spell in club football wasn't successful and, of course, he won the Premier League title with City.
But if he does depart the Italy job after Thursday's crushing blow, then United should certainly be open to a discussion with him to see what comes next and what ideas he might have for restoring the good times at Old Trafford.
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