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. Roberto Mancini now appears to be the front‑runner for the vacancy, with FIGC president Giovanni Malagò personally overseeing the recruitment process following Maldini's departure. While no final decision has been taken yet, Mancini – who left his post at Qatari club Al Sadd in June – is widely regarded as the favourite.
Former national team boss Antonio Conte, who led Italy between 2014 and 2016, is also being mentioned as a possible option, although the federation has not yet made any direct approach to the former Azzurri manager. Both Maldini and his close adviser Leonardo Bonucci resigned just 16 days after the FIGC formally announced their appointments, signalling a rapid shift in the federation’s strategic direction. The decision to halt talks with Pirlo, who had been the federation’s top choice, was taken on Sunday after concerns were raised about his affiliation with Russian betting company Fonbet.
Those concerns stemmed from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the political sensitivities surrounding any ties to Russian enterprises. Maldini and Bonucci were originally recruited to spearhead a sweeping reform of the FIGC after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third straight tournament – a historic low for a nation that had won the competition four times. Their mandate was to rebuild the national set‑up from the grassroots level up to the senior side.
In parallel, the high‑profile coaching vacancy has attracted interest from several big names. Pep Guardiola, who was approached by the FIGC in an attempt to replace Gennaro Gattuso, declined the offer, citing personal reasons unrelated to football.
The federation had even signaled a willingness to stretch its budget to accommodate the Manchester City legend, hoping his involvement could anchor a broader "Azzurro project" that would revamp every tier of Italian football. Mancini, who previously served as Italy’s head coach from 2018 to 2023, guided the team to a dramatic Euro 2020 triumph over England before resigning in August 2023. Since then, he has been linked to the vacant role and is now the leading candidate, especially after his recent stint with Al Sadd ended. Other potential candidates for the technical director role that Maldini vacated include former defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Giuseppe Bergomi, as well as seasoned manager Claudio Ranieri.
Their names have surfaced in media speculation as the federation searches for a successor who can continue the structural overhaul. On Monday, Pirlo publicly announced that he was no longer in contention for the head‑coach job. The 47‑year‑old former midfielder, who won the 2006 World Cup with Italy, had been the favourite after Guardiola turned down the position. Pirlo’s removal from the shortlist was largely driven by his ambassadorial contract with Fonbet, a Russian bookmaker, which sparked criticism from some FIGC officials and politicians who argued that the affiliation was politically sensitive given the war in Ukraine.
In an Instagram post, Pirlo defended his commercial partnership, stating that his work with the betting firm was purely business‑oriented and unrelated to any political stance. He wrote, "During my career, first as a football player and now as a coach, I have always carried out my activity in full respect to the laws of the countries I worked in and the contracts I signed." He added that attributing a political meaning to his agreement was inaccurate, emphasizing that he had never expressed such convictions. Pirlo, who is currently managing United FC in the United Arab Emirates, had planned to terminate his contract with the club in order to take up the Italian job. However, the controversy surrounding his sponsorship deal proved decisive.
The FIGC’s outreach did not stop at Pirlo. Carlo Ancelotti was also contacted before Guardiola entered the picture, according to Maldini, but the Italian coach is tied to a contract with the Brazil national team, making him unavailable.
In summary, the Italian federation is now navigating a complex selection process. With Maldini’s exit, the search for a new technical director is underway, while Roberto Mancini stands as the most likely candidate to return to the bench of the Azzurri.
The episode highlights the delicate balance between sporting ambition, commercial interests, and political considerations that modern football administrations must manage. The situation continues to evolve, and fans can follow the latest updates via Sky Sports’ app, WhatsApp channel, and other digital platforms for real‑time news, analysis, and exclusive content.