Italian football crisis 2.0: Paolo Maldini quits as director just 16 days after taking over

Italy’s attempt to revive its national football project suffered another major setback when Paolo Maldini and Leonardo resigned from their technical roles at the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) just 16 days after taking over. The surprise departures have thrown the four-time world champions into fresh uncertainty as they continue to search for a new head coach and a route back to the World Cup.

Maldini, one of Italy’s greatest defenders, was appointed FIGC technical director on July 11 as part of a major overhaul following another failed World Cup qualifying campaign. He was joined as an adviser by former Brazilian international Leonardo, tasked with rebuilding a national team that had missed the last three editions of football’s biggest tournament.

However, Sky Sport Italia announced on Monday that both had decided to step down, dealing a significant blow to newly elected FIGC president Giovanni Malago before the federation’s rebuilding process could even begin.

One of Maldini’s immediate duties was to identify a successor to Gennaro Gattuso, who left the role of Italy coach earlier this month. Instead, the federation is now looking not only for a national team manager, but also for people to oversee the appointment.

PIRLO EXIT LEAVES ITALY BACK TO DRAFT 1

The resignations come just hours after Andrea Pirlo confirmed he is no longer in contention to become Italy’s next head coach.

Pirlo emerged as Maldini’s preferred choice after Pep Guardiola reportedly rejected the federation’s approach. But the World Cup-winning midfielder’s candidacy has become increasingly controversial due to his commercial partnership with Russian bookmaker Fonbet.

In a statement on social media, Pirlo said he was informed on Sunday that he was no longer being considered. He defended the deal, insisting it was purely commercial and complied with the laws of every country in which he worked.

His association with the company, including appearances at Fonbet events in Moscow, has drawn criticism from parts of the Italian football establishment and lawmakers amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. With opposition mounting, the federation abandoned his appointment and the search for coaches in Italy remained at an early stage.

ANOTHER OBSTACLE ON THE LONG JOURNEY BACK IN ITALY

The departures of Maldini and Leonardo compounded what became one of the darkest periods in modern Italian football.

After failing to qualify for three consecutive World Cups, Italy hoped Maldini’s arrival would mark the start of a long-term rebuild focused on technical stability and a clear sporting vision. Instead, the project fell apart before it could properly begin.

The federation is now left without a technical leadership structure and without a head coach, putting even more pressure on Malago to restore confidence in the national set-up. With qualification for the 2030 FIFA World Cup now a top priority, the FIGC must quickly determine a new direction after yet another dramatic turnaround.

Several high-profile names, including Roberto Mancini, Thiago Motta and Antonio Conte, have already been linked with the vacancy. But following the collapse of Pirlo’s candidacy and the unexpected departures of Maldini and Leonardo, Italy’s search for stability has become considerably more complicated.

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Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

28 Jul 2026 11:22 IST