After a year without a team, Ventura returned coaching during the 2001–02 season, this time at Udinese replacing sacked Roy Hodgson, obtaining just an unimpressive 14th place.

Ventura returned to coaching a Serie A club during the 2005–06 season, when he replaced Bortolo Mutti at the helm of Messina in an unsuccessful attempt to escape from relegation.

Despite a clear improvement in results his club, which was in the bottom of the table at Ventura's appointment time, did not manage to avoid playing a relegation playoff, losing it to Spezia.

He was later confirmed by the new property after Costacurta declined interest in the managerial position, only to be sacked in April 2009 following a string of unimpressive results.

Ventura would also launch the careers of young talents Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Ranocchia, who at the end of the season would become part of the Italy national team.

However, Bari won the Derby di Puglia against rivals Lecce on 6 January 2011, thanks to a goal from loan signing Stefano Okaka.

On 10 February 2011, with Bari sitting last in the table with only one win in four months and nine points from relegation safety, Ventura agreed to part company with the club and was replaced by Bortolo Mutti.

Ventura revolutionised the team with the arrival of several new players and launching the likes of Angelo Ogbonna, Kamil Glik and Matteo Darmian.

In the 2012–13 season, Ventura led Torino to 16th place in the top flight, securing safety from relegation on 12 May 2013 after a 1–1 draw away to Chievo.

[14] On 7 June 2016, Ventura was named replacement for Antonio Conte of the Italy national team, assuming his position on 18 July, following UEFA Euro 2016,[15] and signing a two-year deal with the Italian Football Federation.

[17] Ventura won his first competitive match in charge of Italy four days later, in the team's opening 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification tie away to Israel, 3–1.

[24][25] On 10 October 2018, and almost a year after missing the World Cup qualification with the Italy national team, Ventura returned into management by signing a two-year deal with last-placed Serie A club Chievo.

[28] On 1 August 2020, Ventura resigned from Salernitana after failing to secure a promotion play-off spot and being insulted by club president Claudio Lotito.