Italy appoints Paolo Maldini technical director and Leonardo advisor after 2026 World Cup qualification failure

Double appointment

On Saturday 11 July, FIGC president Giovanni Malagò ended days of speculation by naming Paolo Maldini as the federation's technical director and president of Club Italia, with Leonardo serving as his advisor. The appointments were confirmed in a FIGC statement.

With satisfaction, the FIGC president announces that Paolo Maldini has accepted the role of technical director. He will carry out this task together with Leonardo in the capacity of advisor. Giovanni Malagò will also entrust Paolo Maldini with the presidency of Club Italia.

The agreement followed two weeks of negotiations, with the two sides initially far apart even on economic terms. Both men signed four-year contracts, described by the FIGC as financially favourable, aiming to rebuild Italy's national team structure through to the 2030 World Cup.

Italy's World Cup crisis

The appointments follow a disastrous period for Italian football. The Nazionale failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoff final, the third consecutive World Cup the country will miss. In April, the resignations of president Gabriele Gravina, general manager Gianluigi Buffon, and head coach Gennaro Gattuso cleared the decks for a fresh start. Malagò was elected on 22 June with a mandate to revive the team.

Maldini and Leonardo's remit

Maldini, 58, brings decades of footballing authority: 126 caps for Italy, 74 as captain, and a legendary career with AC Milan. His brief extends beyond the senior team to overseeing the entire youth pipeline. Leonardo, a Brazilian who also holds Italian citizenship, played for and coached Milan, and later served as sporting director at Paris Saint-Germain, joins as a trusted advisor. Speaking to Tg2 Post, Malagò said he had always seen Maldini as the right person, and that Maldini himself suggested Leonardo's involvement because the task was so large and challenging.

It was always my goal, I always thought Paolo Maldini could be the right person for the technical sector of the FIGC, which does not only involve the senior national team but also the youth teams. For two weeks we carried forward ideas and projects. Maldini immediately told me it would be right to involve Leonardo as a consultant because the work is so large, demanding and challenging.

The next coach

The immediate priority is to select a new head coach. Roberto Mancini, who led Italy to Euro 2020 triumph in 2021, is the frontrunner, though Antonio Conte remains a candidate. Italian media report that Maldini and Leonardo do not see Conte as the first choice, making Mancini the more probable appointment. There is also distant speculation about Pep Guardiola, though the idea remains a long shot. Malagò stressed that he had not yet approached any candidate: "I have not spoken to anyone and I did not want to hear anyone: it is right to share the choice with Maldini."

Four-year rebuild

The four-year contracts aim to deliver a competitive squad for the 2028 European Championship and the 2030 World Cup. Malagò confirmed the timeline: "There is a four-year commitment that must take us to the 2030 World Cup via the European Championship." The appointments mark a significant institutional shift, with the president delegating the technical direction to two figures of world football standing.