Roberto Mancini is the new coach of the Italian national team, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced on Monday.

The 53-year-old takes charge of Gli Azzurri after leaving his previous post at the helm of Russian club Zenit St Petersburg. He succeeds Giampiero Ventura, who left the role last November after Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.

Capped 36 times by Italy during his playing career, the former striker enters the international coaching ranks after successful spells in club management at Inter Milan, where he won three Italian Serie A titles, and Manchester City, whom he led to the English Premier League crown in 2011/12.

Ranked 20th in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, Italy will look to return to the big stage by securing qualification for UEFA EURO 2020.