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 new head coach of the Azzurri, according to reports from Sky in Italy. The vacancy now appears to be dominated by former senior team manager Roberto Mancini, who is widely regarded as the federation's preferred choice. The search for a successor to the coaching post is being overseen by FIGC president Giovanni Malagò, who has openly indicated that Mancini is his top pick. While a final decision has yet to be announced, Mancini – who left his role at Qatari club Al Sadd in June – remains the frontrunner.
Former national team boss Antonio Conte, who led Italy between 2014 and 2016, is also mentioned as a possible alternative, although the federation has not yet made any direct approach to the former Azzurri manager. Maldini’s resignation, together with that of his close adviser Leonardo, came just 16 days after the FIGC publicly confirmed their appointments.
The pair quit in protest after the federation announced on Sunday that discussions with Pirlo – who had been selected by Maldini and Leonardo as the preferred candidate – would be halted because of concerns about his commercial ties to a Russian gambling company, Fonbet. The controversy over those links sparked objections from several officials and politicians, given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The episode has been accompanied by a flurry of media activity, including a promotion for the Sky Sports app and a reminder about the Transfer Centre LIVE service. It also highlighted the broader context of the FIGC’s recent overhaul. Maldini and Leonardo were recruited to spearhead a massive restructuring of Italian football after the national team failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups, a historic low for a country that had once dominated the sport. In the meantime, other high‑profile names have emerged for the technical director role that Maldini vacated.
Former defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Giuseppe Bergomi, as well as veteran manager Claudio Ranieri, have all been cited as potential successors, reflecting the federation’s desire to bring experienced footballing figures into its executive ranks. Earlier on Monday, Pirlo announced that he was no longer in contention for the head‑coach job. The 47‑year‑old former midfielder had become the leading candidate after Pep Guardiola ruled himself out.
Pirlo’s association with Fonbet, a Russian bookmaker, had become a sticking point. In an Instagram post, Pirlo defended his commercial partnership, emphasizing that his work with the company was purely commercial and sporting, and that he had never expressed any political stance related to the conflict in Ukraine. He also clarified that his contract with the betting firm was signed in October and that any attempt to read political meaning into it was unfounded. Pirlo, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, also disclosed that he would be terminating his contract with United FC, the UAE Pro League side he was managing in Dubai, should he take up the national‑team job.
He reiterated his commitment to respecting the laws of every country in which he works and to honouring the contracts he signs. The saga also sheds light on the federation’s earlier attempts to secure a high‑profile coach. The FIGC had approached Guardiola, hoping to persuade him to replace Gennaro Gattuso, who left the role earlier this year.
According to Sky, the federation was prepared to make a special budgetary adjustment to meet the Catalan’s salary expectations. Maldini and Leonardo spent three days in Barcelona meeting with Guardiola, presenting a comprehensive vision that went beyond a simple coaching contract.
Their proposal envisioned Guardiola as the centerpiece of an "Azzurro project" – a sweeping reform aimed at rebuilding Italian football from the grassroots level up to the senior national team, especially after Italy’s failure to qualify for the expanded 2026 World Cup. Guardiola ultimately declined, citing personal reasons unrelated to football. Before turning to the Spanish manager, the FIGC had also spoken with Carlo Ancelotti, but the Italian legend was under contract with the Brazil national team and could not be pursued. Mancini’s own tenure with the Azzurri, which lasted just over five years from 2018 to 2023, included a historic triumph at Euro 2020, where Italy defeated England in a dramatic penalty‑shootout.
He resigned in August 2023 after a mixed run of results, but his reputation as a tactician who can deliver success on the biggest stages keeps him in the conversation for a return. Overall, the situation illustrates the complex interplay between sporting ambition, commercial considerations, and political sensitivities that modern football federations must navigate. While the FIGC continues to evaluate its options, the next few weeks will be crucial in determining who will ultimately take charge of the Italian national team and how the broader restructuring of the country's football hierarchy will unfold.