Overview
- FIGC moved to restore stability by naming Roberto Mancini head coach and appointing Claudio Ranieri as technical director after Paolo Maldini and adviser Leonardo resigned from the federation roles.
- Maldini and Leonardo had pursued high‑profile options including talks with Pep Guardiola and a push for Andrea Pirlo, a plan that collapsed after federation vetting raised concerns over commercial ties.
- Federation president Giovanni Malagò intervened in the vetting process, blocking Pirlo over links to a Russian betting firm, a decision that helped trigger Maldini and Leonardo’s departures and exposed internal conflicts.
- Gianluigi Buffon told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he declined Maldini’s offer to return, said he would have preferred Antonio Conte as coach, endorsed Ranieri’s appointment, and cautioned that a name like Guardiola would not have guaranteed success.
- The federation still faces pressure to deliver on an eight‑to‑ten‑year technical overhaul focused on youth, scouting and club coordination while meeting near‑term demands for World Cup qualification and Nations League fixtures.