Giovanni Malagò says Paolo Maldini was his first choice for Italy's technical director role, and that Leonardo will join him as an advisor. The pair have signed four-year contracts, with Malagò framing the appointment as part of a wider FIGC rebuild rather than a single hire.
Malagò's case for Maldini
Malagò's clearest line was simple enough. "Maldini has always been my goal," he said, adding that he wanted him to oversee the technical sector of the FIGC, which covers not only the senior national team but the youth sides too.
He also explained why Leonardo was brought into the picture. "Paolo immediately told me that he would like to involve Leonardo as a consultant because of the demanding, challenging and time-consuming nature of the role," Malagò said.
That pairing is the key detail. This is not being sold as a lone figure stepping in and fixing everything. It is a four-year commitment, and Malagò himself described Maldini and Leonardo as "two sides of the same coin," with the project meant to run through to the 2030 World Cup.
Italy's rebuild goes beyond the coaching job
The structure matters because Malagò has said the coach will only be addressed after the technical director is in place. He also said the process would be closed over the course of a week, which tells you the FIGC wants the architecture settled before moving to the next decision.
That fits the scale of the job. The technical director role is not just about one senior squad, it stretches across the youth national sides as well. The appointment sits inside a larger reset for Italy, who have missed three consecutive World Cups.
Fabio Capello was among those backing Maldini's suitability, saying: "Nobody better than him would be able to do it." There is still debate around who comes next in the coaching conversation, with Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte both remaining in the wider frame in some reports, but the appointment of Maldini changes the order of business. The FIGC now has its preferred organiser in place first, and that is the right way to approach a rebuild this wide.
FAQ
Why did Giovanni Malagò choose Paolo Maldini for Italy's technical director job?
Malagò said Maldini had always been his goal for the FIGC technical sector. He wanted him in charge of a role that covers the senior team and the youth national sides, and he said Leonardo was added as an advisor because the job is demanding and time-consuming.
What is the plan for Italy's rebuild after Maldini's appointment?
Malagò framed it as a four-year commitment running to the 2030 World Cup and said the coach would only be addressed after the technical director was appointed. He also said the process should be closed over the course of a week.
How serious is Italy's national team crisis right now?
Italy have missed three consecutive World Cups, and the federation has already gone through a leadership reset after the latest failure. That is the backdrop for Maldini's appointment and the wider FIGC rebuild.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →