Overview
- The FIGC announced the appointments on Saturday, July 11, when Giovanni Malagò said Paolo Maldini accepted the role of technical director and will also serve as president of Club Italia under a four-year contract through 2030.
- Leonardo was formally named Maldini’s advisor, a surprise inclusion that pairs two former AC Milan figures to share responsibility for the full national-team pipeline from youth squads to the senior Azzurri.
- Their immediate, high-priority task is to identify and appoint a new commissario tecnico for the senior team, with media and betting markets listing Roberto Mancini, Antonio Conte, Stefano Pioli and Pep Guardiola as possible but unconfirmed candidates.
- Coverage highlights practical constraints they must manage, including FIGC budget limits that could require club or sponsor contributions for an expensive coach and scrutiny over whether the Maldini–Leonardo partnership, which had mixed durability in club roles, will last in the national setup.
- The moves are a direct response to Italy’s recent failures to qualify for World Cups and reflect Malagò’s push for a top-down technical rebuild aimed at improving results at the European Championship and the 2030 World Cup.