​Paolo Maldini has officially accepted the role of technical director at the FIGC (the Italian Football Federation) and will be joined by his former Milan teammate Leonardo as an advisor, according to an official federation statement. This marks a decisive moment in what many see as the start of a major transformation for Italy’s national team. The changes come in the wake of significant upheaval: at the end of March, Gabriele Gravina resigned as FIGC president following Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, and head coach Gennaro Gattuso and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon also stepped down. In June, Giovanni Malagò was elected as Gravina’s successor and has since been focused on installing a new technical director who will play a central part in securing a future head coach for the national team.
Maldini, a legendary former Milan and Italy defender, has been chosen to lead the federation’s technical direction and is reportedly set to be granted unprecedented authority as he works to rebuild a national side that has claimed four World Cups but has failed to reach the tournament in the last three editions. Maldini’s appointment comes with Leonardo as an advisor, and both have signed four-year contracts covering the World Cup cycle through 2030. The arrangement signals an emphasis on long-term planning and a comprehensive approach to Italy’s footballing structure, with the goal of reviving the country’s fortunes on the global stage.
“With great pleasure, Giovanni Malagò, President of the FIGC, announces that Paolo Maldini has accepted the position of the federation’s technical director,” the FIGC stated on its website. The announcement also noted that Malagò will entrust Maldini with the Presidency of Club Italia, underscoring the breadth of the role beyond the senior national team to encompass the federation’s wider development pipeline.
Malagò has spoken publicly about his enduring respect for Maldini, stressing that the former captain is the right person to oversee the FIGC’s technical sector, which spans not only the senior squad but the entire chain of youth national teams. “Over the last two weeks, we have discussed all the projects in detail, and Paolo immediately expressed a desire to bring Leonardo on board as a consultant because of the demanding, challenging, and time-consuming nature of the role,” Malagò explained. He added that Maldini’s four-year mandate would guide Italy’s teams from now through 2030, the next World Cup year, including a European Championship.
The immediate task facing Maldini, Leonardo, and Malagò is selecting a new head coach for the Italy national team. Current reports have highlighted the possibility that Roberto Mancini could be the leading candidate to take the reins, though official confirmation and final decisions will come through the federation’s processes in the coming weeks. The quartet faces a significant challenge: to restore consistency, develop a robust pipeline of talent, and reestablish Italy as a serious contender on the world stage after recent disappointments at major tournaments. The path ahead will likely involve restructuring coaching roles, refining youth development pathways, and implementing a cohesive strategy that aligns the senior team with Italy’s broader footballing ambitions.
As this new leadership begins its work, eyes will be on the choices that Maldini, Leonardo, and Malagò make regarding both the senior team and the broader ecosystem that feeds it. The aim is clear: to restore Italy’s standing as a global football powerhouse by 2030, delivering not only competitive success but also a sustainable framework for future generations of Italian players. The coming months are poised to reveal the specifics of their plans, including the appointment of a head coach who can translate this ambitious vision into tangible results on and off the pitch.