Overview
- The FIGC announced on Saturday that Paolo Maldini has accepted the newly created technical director role and will also serve as president of Club Italia.
- Former Milan director Leonardo will join Maldini as an adviser to help run the federation’s technical and youth operations.
- The federation has framed the job as a multi-year project running to the 2030 World Cup but local reports say Maldini’s contract may instead run to 2028, creating a discrepancy over term length.
- Maldini’s immediate task is to lead the search for a new Italy head coach, with names such as Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini reported as leading candidates.
- The appointment follows the FIGC leadership change after Italy missed another World Cup and is meant to unify senior and youth pathways, boost commercial credibility, and face short-term limits from federation politics and infrastructure deadlines.