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          Inter Milan confirm Roberto Mancini appointment after Walter Mazzarri exit

          • ESPN staffNov 14, 2014, 11:50 AM ET

          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."