Italy renews with Paolo Maldini as football federation's technical director

In a significant move aimed at revitalizing Italian football, legendary former AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini has been appointed as the technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

The announcement was made on Saturday by FIGC President Giovanni Malago, who expressed great satisfaction with Maldini's acceptance of the new role. This appointment is a key component of the federation's reconstruction efforts, spurred by the national team's devastating failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, marking the third consecutive omission from the prestigious tournament.

Maldini, renowned for his illustrious playing career and subsequent management roles, will be supported by Brazilian Leonardo, a former sporting director for PSG and AC Milan, who will serve as an advisor. Their immediate priority will be to address the team's morale, which has been severely impacted by their repeated World Cup absences. Italy's last appearance in the tournament was in Brazil in 2014, where they were eliminated in the group stage.

While Italy celebrated a triumphant victory at the Euro 2021 championship, this success has not offset the decline in their international football standing. The FIGC itself is undergoing a transition, with Giovanni Malago recently elected as its new president in late June. A pressing task for the new leadership is the appointment of a new national team coach to succeed Gennaro Gattuso, who departed after Italy's playoff loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina in March for the 2026 World Cup.

Speculation is mounting that Antonio Conte, who previously managed the national team from 2014 to 2016, is a strong candidate for the coaching position. Conte is currently unattached after leaving Napoli at the end of the last season. Maldini's appointment signals a new era for Italian football, with a focus on strategic rebuilding and restoring the nation's elite status on the global stage.

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With great satisfaction, the president of the FIGC, Giovanni Malago, announces that Paolo Maldini has accepted the position of technical director of the Federation.