Maldini appointed technical director of Italy's national football team

Maldini has moved quickly to assemble his own team. As an advisor, he has surprisingly brought in Leonardo, the 56-year-old Brazilian who won the 1994 World Cup as a player and has held senior sporting-director roles at AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. The FIGC confirmed the appointment.

Maldini's footballing pedigree is among the deepest in the modern game. He was part of the Italy squad that lost the 1994 World Cup final to Brazil, played at four World Cups across a 25-year senior career, and lifted league titles and Champions League trophies with AC Milan.

From Milan to the Azzurri: a career in football

After retiring as a player, Maldini served as technical director of AC Milan from 2019 to 2023. The FIGC announcement positions him as the central figure in Italy's attempt to reorganise its national team operations following a difficult period.

Conte and Mancini lead the shortlist

The most pressing task awaiting Maldini is the appointment of a new head coach. Two names dominate the conversation: Antonio Conte, 56, and Roberto Mancini, 61. Both are former Italy national team coaches and both are currently without a club. Conte led Italy to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, while Mancini guided the Azzurri to the European Championship title in 2021 before later resigning.

A family legacy with the national team

There is also a family dimension to the job. Maldini's late father, Cesare Maldini, coached the 'Squadra Azzurra' from 1996 to 1998, making the Maldinis one of the most prominent father-and-son combinations in Italian football history. Cesare Maldini, who was part of the 1966 Italy coaching staff and played in the 1962 World Cup, died in 2016.

Maldini's arrival marks a clear signal that the FIGC is willing to entrust significant influence to a figure from the club game. The federation's statement framed the role as carrying 'große Verantwortung', covering not only the choice of the next national coach but also the long-term management of youth and senior national teams.

It remains to be seen how quickly a head coach will be named. With Maldini now installed and Leonardo alongside him, attention in Italian football will turn to whether one of the two frontrunners accepts the position, and how the new technical structure reshapes Italy's preparations for upcoming international fixtures.