Lippi, Scolari, Van Gaal: like Mancini, what did their comebacks deliver? | OneFootball

Roberto Mancini, 61, has returned to lead Italy after his 2018-2023 spell, following failed moves for Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Andrea Pirlo. Giovanni Malago, the federation president, has brought back the Euro 2021 winner, who then missed the 2022 World Cup and left in August 2023 lured by Saudi money. According to L'Équipe, among the current FIFA top 20, second spells this century have been mixed.

The Netherlands are specialists. Ronald Koeman returned after 2018-2020, reached the Euro 2024 semi-finals, then went out to Morocco in the 2026 World Cup last 16. Louis Van Gaal’s second stint brought a 2014 World Cup semi-final against Argentina, and his third spell from August 2021 ended unbeaten in 20 matches before a 2022 quarter-final loss to Argentina.

Dick Advocaat also came back twice, delivering a Euro 2004 semi-final against Portugal and, in 2017, a brief revival of a faltering 2018 qualifying campaign that still fell short.

Brazil recalled Carlos Alberto Parreira from 2003 to 2006, he won the 2004 Copa América and 2005 Confederations Cup, then fell in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals to France. Mexico’s Javier Aguirre had three stints, each return bringing a Gold Cup, 2009 and 2025, plus last 16 runs in 2010 and 2026.

Italy’s precedent is grim, Marcello Lippi, champion in 2006 then recalled in 2008, failed to escape the 2010 group stage, a first since 1974. Brazil suffered too, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s second term ended with a home semi-final defeat to Germany, and Dunga followed with a 2015 quarter-final exit to Paraguay then a 2016 group-stage exit. Elsewhere, Alfio Basile lost the 2007 Copa América final and left before 2010 qualifying ended, while Henri Michel and United States bosses Bruce Arena and Gregg Berhalter also struggled on return.

Source: L'Équipe