Paolo Maldini has stepped down from his position as technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) after the governing body decided not to move forward with Andrea Pirlo as the next head coach of the Azzurri, according to reports from Sky in Italy. The spotlight now turns to former national team boss Roberto Mancini, who has become the favourite name for the vacancy. FIGC president Giovanni Malagò is steering the recruitment process following Maldini’s departure, and he has indicated a clear preference for Mancini, who left his role at Qatari club Al Sadd in June. While no final appointment has been confirmed yet, Mancini is widely regarded as the front‑runner.
He previously led Italy from 2018 to 2023, delivering the memorable Euro 2020 triumph over England before resigning in August 2023. His experience and recent success make him a logical choice for the federation, which is eager to restore stability after a period of disappointment. Another name that has resurfaced is Antonio Conte, who managed the national side between 2014 and 2016. Although his candidacy has been mentioned in the media, the FIGC has not yet opened formal talks with the former Azzurri coach.
Maldini’s resignation, together with that of his close adviser Leonardo Bonucci, came just 16 days after the federation publicly announced their appointments. The duo quit after the board halted discussions with Pirlo, citing concerns about his commercial ties to the Russian betting firm Fonbet. Those links sparked objections from several FIGC officials and politicians, given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The decision to drop Pirlo was confirmed on Sunday, when it became clear that his association with the gambling company would be a political and ethical sticking point.
Pirlo, a 2006 World Cup winner, responded on Instagram, insisting that his partnership with Fonbet was purely commercial and sporting, and that he had never expressed any political stance related to the conflict. In his post, Pirlo wrote: "After learning last night that I am no longer the candidate to lead the Italian national team, I feel compelled to clarify a few points. Over the past days I have watched with great bitterness the debate surrounding my name and the possibility of taking over the role of head coach.
Throughout my career, first as a player and now as a coach, I have always acted in full compliance with the laws of the countries where I have worked and the contracts I have signed." He added that attributing political meaning to his sponsorship was inaccurate, emphasizing that the agreement signed in October was strictly a business arrangement. At the time of the controversy, Pirlo was managing United FC in the United Arab Emirates, a role he would have to abandon should he have taken the Italy job. The FIGC’s search for a new technical director to replace Maldini also includes former players and coaches such as Giorgio Chiellini, Giuseppe Bergomi and Claudio Ranieri, all of whom have been mentioned as possible successors.
Earlier in the week, Pirlo announced that he was no longer in contention for the head‑coach position, confirming that the federation’s concerns over his betting‑firm affiliation had effectively ended his candidacy. Before Pirlo entered the picture, the FIGC had approached Pep Guardiola, who had previously turned down the role after Gennaro Gattuso’s departure left the job vacant. According to Sky, the federation was prepared to make a special budgetary adjustment to secure Guardiola’s services. Maldini and Leonardo spent three days in Barcelona meeting the former Manchester City manager, presenting a sweeping vision for an "Azzurro project" that would overhaul Italian football from the senior team down to the youth levels.
The proposal envisioned Guardiola as the central figure in a long‑term restructuring plan aimed at rebuilding the national setup after Italy’s failure to qualify for the expanded 2026 World Cup. The plan would have involved not only the senior side but also all other age‑group teams, creating a unified playing philosophy and talent pipeline. Despite the ambitious scope, Guardiola declined, citing personal reasons unrelated to football. Carlo Ancelotti was also reportedly contacted before Guardiola, but his commitments with the Brazil national team made him unavailable.
With the Guardiola option off the table and Pirlo’s candidacy withdrawn, the federation’s attention has sharpened on Mancini. His previous tenure saw Italy rise from a period of stagnation to European champions, and his familiarity with the squad could provide continuity as the Azzurri look to rebuild. Maldini’s exit underscores the turbulence within the FIGC following Italy’s failure to qualify for three consecutive World Cups – a historic low for the nation. The federation has been under pressure to implement a comprehensive reform, and the resignation of its technical chief signals a possible shift in strategy.
As the search continues, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see whether Mancini will be reinstated, whether a new foreign manager might emerge, or whether the federation will opt for a fresh Italian face to lead the team into the next competitive cycle. The outcome will shape the direction of Italian football for years to come.