The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has locked in two of the sport's most storied names to lead a comprehensive overhaul of the national team structure. Paolo Maldini will serve as Technical Director, while Leonardo has been named Advisor—a surprise pairing announced by newly elected FIGC President Giovanni Malagò following weeks of closed-door negotiations.
The move represents the first major initiative of Malagò's presidency, which began on 22 June 2026, and signals a strategic shift toward institutional expertise after Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Gennaro Gattuso, appointed in June 2025 specifically to guide the team through the qualification campaign, was unable to reverse the nation's fortunes, leading to his replacement. Both Maldini and Leonardo have been contracted for four years, designed to align with the 2030 World Cup cycle, with Maldini also assuming leadership of Club Italia, the federation's youth development hub.
Why This Matters
• Maldini's annual salary is set at €250,000, with responsibilities spanning the entire technical pipeline—from youth academies to senior squads.
• Leonardo's compensation has not been disclosed, but his role centers on strategic counsel rather than day-to-day operations.
• The duo will jointly recommend Italy's next head coach, with Roberto Mancini emerging as the frontrunner over Antonio Conte.
• Italy's next competitive fixtures—Nations League matches beginning 25 September 2026 against Belgium in Rome—could be managed by an interim coach if the selection process drags.
A Milan Reunion at Federal Level
Both men share deep roots with AC Milan, where they played together during the club's dominant 1990s era and later held executive roles. Maldini, 58, earned 126 caps for Italy—74 as captain—and spent two decades in Milan's backline before transitioning to a front-office role. Leonardo, born in 1969, wore the Rossoneri jersey as a midfielder, later coached the club during the 2009-2010 season, and served as sporting director at Paris Saint-Germain.
Their parallel trajectories now converge under a federal mandate. Malagò, who previously led the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) for over a decade, courted Maldini for weeks before securing his commitment. The breakthrough came only in the final days of negotiations, with Leonardo's involvement emerging as a late addition intended to broaden strategic input.
What This Means for Residents
For Italian football fans, the appointments of two legends synonymous with Italian greatness represent a turning point after years of heartbreak. The nation's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup—combined with earlier playoff defeats in 2018 and 2022—left supporters reeling. But now, the federation has brought in heavyweight names capable of restoring pride and direction. This isn't merely a management shuffle; it's a symbolic commitment to reclaiming Italy's place at football's highest level.
The federation has cycled through Luciano Spalletti (August 2023–June 2025), Gattuso (June 2025–June 2026), and interim boss Silvio Baldini since the start of 2023. In Maldini and Leonardo, residents see stability anchored by genuine expertise and legendary pedigree.
Maldini's portfolio extends beyond the senior men's squad. As Technical Director, he will oversee all national teams—men's, women's, youth levels—and coordinate talent pathways aimed at reversing a troubling statistic: in the 2023-2024 season, Italian Under-21 players logged just 2.3% of total Serie A minutes. This systemic bottleneck has been cited by Malagò as a root cause of the national team's decline.
The four-year timeline is no accident. Italy's immediate competitive calendar includes the 2026-2027 Nations League (grouped with France, Belgium, and Turkey in League A), followed by qualifiers for Euro 2028. The larger target, however, is the 2030 World Cup, for which Italy must rebuild credibility and depth.
The Coach Conundrum
While Maldini and Leonardo settle into their roles, the search for a permanent head coach remains unresolved. According to multiple reports, Roberto Mancini—who previously managed the Azzurri from 2018 to 2023 before departing for Saudi Arabia—is considered the preferred option. Mancini would need to negotiate an exit from his current contract, but sources close to the federation suggest mutual interest in a reunion.
Antonio Conte, who recently parted ways with Napoli in May 2026, is also in the mix. His Serie A pedigree and proven ability to maximize squad performance make him an attractive candidate, though his salary demands—historically among the highest in Italian football—could prove prohibitive for a federation balancing tight budgets.
A third name circulating in Italian media is Pep Guardiola. Maldini and Leonardo are reportedly intrigued by the prospect, given Guardiola's tactical brilliance and ties to Italy. However, reports suggest he may be considering a sabbatical following his tenure at Manchester City, and any approach at this stage remains speculative. The notion of bringing him in during his break has been discussed in some quarters but remains uncertain.
If no agreement is reached before September, the federation may appoint a caretaker to oversee the opening Nations League fixtures. This stop-gap solution would allow the new leadership time to finalize a long-term hire without rushing into a decision.
Structural Ambitions Beyond the Pitch
Malagò's broader agenda, titled "Uniti per il futuro del calcio italiano" (United for the Future of Italian Football), outlines a multi-pronged reform program. Key pillars include:
• Economic sustainability: Ensuring the federation operates within its means while funding grassroots programs.
• Youth valorization: Removing bureaucratic barriers that discourage clubs from fielding young Italians and incentivizing academies to prioritize domestic talent.
• Infrastructure upgrades: Modernizing training facilities and stadiums to meet UEFA standards.
• Governance modernization: Streamlining decision-making processes and creating clearer accountability lines.
The creation of a Technical Director role—now filled by Maldini—was explicitly designed to bridge the gap between the federation's administrative arm and its coaching staff. Historically, Italy's national team structure lacked a unifying figure to coordinate philosophy across age groups, leading to disjointed development pathways.
Skepticism and Scrutiny
Not everyone is convinced. Critics point out that neither Maldini nor Leonardo has recent experience managing large-scale technical operations. Maldini's tenure as AC Milan's technical director (2018-2023) ended acrimoniously amid boardroom disputes, and Leonardo's last high-profile role at PSG concluded in 2019. Both men will face immediate pressure to justify their appointments with tangible results.
Additionally, the €250,000 salary for Maldini—while modest compared to top club executives—has drawn scrutiny given the federation's stated emphasis on fiscal discipline. Transparency around Leonardo's compensation remains absent, fueling speculation about the true cost of the dual-hire strategy.
Looking Ahead
The 25 September 2026 Nations League opener against Belgium will serve as an early test, regardless of who occupies the bench. Italy's squad depth remains thin in key positions, and the transition to a new tactical identity—assuming Mancini or another coach brings one—will take time to implement.
For now, the federation is banking on the symbolic weight of two names synonymous with Italian football excellence. Whether Maldini and Leonardo can translate past glory into present-day competence remains the open question, but Malagò has staked his presidency on the gamble. The 2030 World Cup is the ultimate deadline. Between now and then, every decision will be measured against that singular objective: returning Italy to the global stage.
