Paolo Maldini named technical director of Italian Football Federation

Legendary AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini has been named the new technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). This move is part of a broader initiative to rebuild Italian football following the national team's disastrous failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The FIGC announced with "great satisfaction" that Paolo Maldini accepted the position. He will be joined by former PSG and AC Milan sporting director Leonardo, who will serve as an advisor. This appointment comes after Italy missed out on the World Cup for the third consecutive time, having also failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Their last appearance was in Brazil 2014, where they were eliminated in the group stage.

Despite winning the Euro 2021 championship, Italy has lost its standing in international football's elite. The FIGC, under its new president Giovanni Malago, faces the urgent task of appointing a new national coach. The previous coach, Gennaro Gattuso, departed after Italy's playoff loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina in March, which sealed their World Cup fate. Antonio Conte, who previously managed the national team from 2014 to 2016, is reportedly a strong candidate to return as coach.

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