The FIGC relies on the Rossoneri legend and the former AC Milan and PSG manager to relaunch itself after the world cup failure. The Malagò line won: contract until 2030 and full powers starting from the choice of the next coach.
Like at Milan, first on the pitch and then behind the desk: Paolo Maldini and Leonardo work together again and this time they do it to try to revive the fortunes of Italian football which emerged with broken bones from the third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup. The pressure of the new president of the FIGC, Giorgio Malagòhas obtained the desired result: Maldini has accepted the new role (in the sense of never seen before) of technical director of the federation, with full powers over the national team supply chain, and Leonardo will be his advisor.
Malagò himself announced it at the culmination of two weeks of meetings and discussions: “With satisfaction I announce that Paolo Maldini has accepted the role of technical director of the Federation. He will carry out this task together with Leonardo in the capacity of advisor. Malagò will also entrust the presidency of Club Italia to Maldini” reads the note dictated by the number one in Italian football.
An agreement that the successor to Gabriele Gravinawho resigned after the world crash, has sought vigorously since the moment of his election. Maldini, who left Milan after being fired by Cardinale in June 2023, had so far rejected any offer and in recent months had also approached, only to later distance himself from, one of the candidates for the presidency of Fenerbache.
The courtship was successful and Maldini will have full powers to redesign the panorama of the Italian national teams. It will start with the appointment of the next coach, with big names like Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini in the running. A duel in which it is not excluded that a third wheel could also enter, even if now the focus is on the selection process that will have to go through the new head of Club Italia and his right-hand man Leonardo.
Paolo Maldini had a four-year contract expiring in 2030. The declared objective is to bring Italy back to the World Cup and the Football Federation will spare no effort, including economic as well as planning, to achieve the objective.
