Mancini equals Bearzot: phenomenal numbers, only two Italian coaches ahead in history

Mancini reached 40 Italy wins, equalling Bearzot; only Pozzo and Sacchi have better points-per-game averages among Italian national team coaches.

Roberto Mancini has joined Enzo Bearzot in the pantheon of Italy's most successful coaches, reaching 40 victories in 66 matches after the 3-1 win over France at San Siro. Only Vittorio Pozzo, who won two World Cups (1934, 1938) with 63 wins and a 2.16 points-per-game average, stands ahead of him in the all-time rankings.

Arrigo Sacchi is second with 2.13 points per game; Mancini now sits third with 2.06, having won 60.6% of his matches with 16 draws and 10 defeats.

Since his recall in September after the Arab pause, Mancini has revitalized the Nazionale with three wins in five matches, commanding the Nations League group ahead of France, Belgium and Turkey. His eye for young talent remains sharp—he has debuted 64 players across 129 total convocations, most recently Kayode, Vergara, Sebastiano Esposito, Romano, Doumbia, Ruggeri and Zoma.

For this cycle, 30 of his 44 called-up players are under 26, signalling a forward-looking approach that has already produced stars like Barella, Berardi, Tonali and Dimarco.