AFP | Rome

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Newly-appointed Italy coach Roberto Mancini said he was dreaming of bagging a major trophy, the Azzurri having missed out on the last three World Cups.

Mancini was speaking at his first press conference since being unveiled as successor to Gennaro Gattuso, who resigned as Italy coach after their World Cup qualification play-off final defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in March.

The 61-year-old Mancini was previously Italy boss from 2018 until 2023, leading them to the Euro 2020 title.

He has been preferred to another ex-national team coach in Antonio Conte.

“I hope to win another trophy, maybe two,” Mancini said.

“My goal is to make sure the team immediately gets back to winning ways.”

Mancini’s first period at the helm of the Italy side ended suddenly when he took up the Saudi Arabia job.

Leaving the Italy setup at the time, he said, was “a bit like losing the woman of your life”.

But the former Manchester City and Inter Milan coach, who has signed a four-year deal, vowed “to make sure the team is so good that the fans fall in love with it all over again”.

Mancini added: “I believe there are young, talented players in Italy. I simply believe we need to trust them and let them play.”

Mancini’s first game in charge is a Nations League match against Belgium in Rome on September 25, before facing Turkey three days later.

Then comes a trip to Paris when Italy take on France, with Zinedine Zidane at the helm.