Paolo Maldini has resigned from his position as technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) after just over two weeks in the role, a move that follows the federation's decision not to move forward with Andrea Pirlo as the new head coach of the Azzurri, according to reports from Sky in Italy. The search for a permanent manager now appears to be centred on former Italy boss Roberto Mancini, who is widely regarded as the leading candidate.
FIGC president Giovanni Malagò is steering the appointment process after Maldini's abrupt departure, and Mancini, who left his post at Qatari club Al Sadd in June, has emerged as the favourite. While no final verdict has been issued, Mancini's name dominates the shortlist.
He previously led Italy from 2018 to 2023, guiding the national side to a memorable Euro 2020 triumph over England before stepping down in August 2023. Another possible contender is Antonio Conte, who managed the Azzurri between 2014 and 2016, although the federation has not yet opened formal talks with him. Maldini and his advisor, former striker Leonardo, quit just 16 days after the FIGC publicly announced their appointments.
Their resignation came after a Sunday meeting in which the federation decided to halt negotiations with Pirlo – the candidate Maldini and Leonardo had championed – due to concerns about his commercial ties to a Russian gambling company, Fonbet. The episode unfolded against a backdrop of significant upheaval within Italian football.
Maldini and Leonardo were recruited to spearhead a sweeping reform of the national setup after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive tournament, a historic low point for the country’s footballing pedigree. Earlier in the week, Pep Guardiola also declined the opportunity to become Italy’s head coach, a role that has remained vacant since Gennaro Gattuso’s exit. The federation had even been prepared to stretch its budget to secure Guardiola, and Maldini and Leonardo spent three days in Barcelona presenting a comprehensive "Azzurro project" that would have placed the former Manchester City manager at the heart of a complete restructuring of all Italian national teams, not just the senior side. Guardiola ultimately turned down the offer for personal reasons unrelated to football.
Pirlo, a 47‑year‑old World Cup winner from 2006, announced that he was no longer in the running for the job after the controversy surrounding his ambassadorial role with Fonbet resurfaced. In an Instagram post, he defended his commercial partnership, stating that his work with the bookmaker was strictly business‑related and bore no political connotations, especially given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
He added that he would be terminating his contract with United FC, the UAE Pro League club he was managing, to focus on the national team if the appointment had proceeded. Other names have been floated for the technical director vacancy left by Maldini. Former defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Giuseppe Bergomi, as well as veteran coach Claudio Ranieri, are reportedly under consideration to fill the strategic role that Maldini vacated. The saga highlights the complex interplay between sporting decisions and external factors such as sponsorships, politics, and public perception.
While the FIGC aims to restore Italy’s standing on the international stage, it must also navigate the scrutiny that comes with high‑profile appointments. In summary, Maldini’s brief stint as technical director ended abruptly due to the federation’s reluctance to endorse a head‑coach candidate whose off‑field affiliations sparked controversy. With Mancini emerging as the frontrunner, the FIGC hopes to stabilise the national team’s leadership and launch a new era of development that can return the Azzurri to the elite of world football. The coming weeks will be decisive as the federation finalises its choice and begins the rebuilding process that Italian fans have been eagerly awaiting.