Inter Milan have confirmed the return of Roberto Mancini as
head coach.
Mancini had managed the club between 2004 and 2008, winning
three Serie A titles and two Coppe Italia, during his previous stint.
He replaces Walter Mazzarri, who was dismissed after a
disappointing run of results left Inter 12 points off the summit and five
behind third place, which they had set as their objective in the summer.
Inter president Erick Thohir told the club's official
website on Friday: "Today I made the difficult decision to suspend Walter
Mazzarri as head coach. It was a decision that I reached in conjunction with my
management team.
"It was a difficult decision because he has been
continuously supportive of the direction that we have wanted to take the club,
and he has worked tirelessly and selflessly for Inter, with both belief and
passion. I would like to thank him sincerely for his efforts.
"However, our goal is to regain our rightful position
as one of the very top clubs in Europe, and that's why I am so happy to welcome
back Roberto Mancini. His track record both at Inter and elsewhere speaks for
itself, and his international experience and hunger for success will I know
drive the team to the next level."
Mancini, who will be presented at a news conference at 2
p.m. local time on Saturday, wrote on his own Twitter account: "This is a
new, stimulating challenge and I'm delighted to embrace the nerazzurri fans
again. See you tomorrow."
Following his previous stint at the San Siro, Mancini had
spells in charge of Manchester City, where he won one Premier League title and
one FA Cup, and then Galatasaray, where he won the Turkish Cup in May before
leaving the following month, citing differences in the club's objectives as his
motivation.
Former Inter president Massimo Moratti had earlier welcomed
the imminent return of the man he had replaced with Jose Mourinho in 2008.
"I'm delighted for Mancini," Moratti was quoted as
saying by Il Corriere dello Sport. "He's a very good coach, a great worker
and this is what was necessary right now."
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