​Paolo Maldini has been named the Italian Football Federation’s new technical director, marking a return to a post he previously held with Italy’s top football authority. The legendary defender, who spent his entire playing career with AC Milan and Italy, will bring decades of experience at both club and national levels to the FIGC in this senior strategic role. In his new capacity, Maldini will be guided by former Milan teammate, head coach, and director Leonardo, who will serve as an advisor as part of the technical leadership team, the FIGC announced.
Maldini’s immediate priority is to select a permanent head coach for the senior national team, a role that has been vacant since Gennaro Gattuso stepped down in April after Italy failed to secure World Cup qualification. The announcement underscores Maldini’s broader remit beyond the senior team, encompassing the entire pathway of Italy’s national team program, including the development of youth national teams. FIGC president Giovanni Malagò stated that Maldini has committed to a four-year contract, emphasizing the long-term vision for Italy’s football infrastructure.
“Maldini has always been my goal,” Malagò said in a statement. “I believed he could be the right person to oversee the technical sector of the FIGC, which goes beyond the senior national team and extends to the entire ecosystem of youth national teams.” Maldini’s appointment comes at a critical juncture for Italian football, as the country confronts a period of post-World Cup disappointment and a need to rebuild the national team’s competitiveness on the world stage.
At 58, Maldini brings a storied career as a one-club legend with AC Milan, where he achieved countless domestic and European accolades. His long-standing commitment to Milan and his 14-year international career with Italy, during which he earned 126 caps, have cemented his status as one of the sport’s most respected figures. Maldini’s deep knowledge of Italian football culture, talent development, and high-performance standards positions him to steer the FIGC toward a comprehensive reform of Italy’s football pathway—from youth academies to the senior national team.
The FIGC move signals an intent to centralize strategic direction in Maldini’s hands, with a focus on long-term stability and sustainable growth. The technical director’s remit includes talent identification, coaching education, player development pipelines, and alignment across national teams at various age levels. By appointing Maldini, the FIGC aims to create a cohesive, data-driven approach to selecting coaches, refining playing styles, and ensuring Italy remains competitive on the world stage.
As Italy has failed to progress beyond the group stages in recent World Cup campaigns and looks to reclaim its status among football’s elite, Maldini’s leadership is seen as a potential turning point. The four-year term indicates a robust mandate to implement structural changes, modernize coaching standards, and rebuild confidence within Italian football’s leadership ranks. The appointment also brings together a network of experienced professionals, including Leonardo, whose dual experience as a former player at Milan and as a coach and administrator could help bridge club and national team perspectives.
In summarizing the development, Maldini’s return to a central technical role for Italy is framed as a strategic initiative to reshape the country’s football talent pipeline, improve coaching quality, and establish a clear, unified blueprint for success across all levels of national football. The broader objective is to secure a new era of performance for Italy on the world stage, with a strong emphasis on the youth programs that feed the senior national team, a pathway Maldini is uniquely positioned to oversee given his history, stature, and experience within Italian football.