Italy in Chaos: Maldini and Leonardo Leave the National Team After Just 16 Days

Paolo Maldini and Leonardo’s involvement in the Italian national team’s new project has ended after just 16 days. According to Sky Sport, the two directors informed FIGC president Giovanni Malagò of their irrevocable decision to resign from the Italian Football Federation.

Maldini had been appointed FIGC technical director and president of “Club Italia,” while Leonardo had taken on the role of strategic advisor. They were chosen to build a four-year project aimed at returning Italy to the highest level of international football.

The Dispute Over Andrea Pirlo

The main reason behind their departure was the final decision to block Andrea Pirlo’s appointment as Italy’s new head coach.

Following rejections from Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, Maldini identified his former teammate as the ideal candidate to begin the Azzurri’s new era. According to Maldini, Pirlo shared his technical vision and was prepared to lead the project.

However, FIGC president Giovanni Malagò vetoed Pirlo’s appointment because of the political and media controversy surrounding the Italian coach’s role as a brand ambassador for Russian betting company Fonbet.

Maldini Felt Unsupported

The decision to block Pirlo left Maldini feeling unsupported and unprotected by the Federation’s leadership.

Several discussions took place in an attempt to find a solution and prevent the resignations. Thiago Motta was among the alternative candidates proposed for the Italy job. His name was reportedly suggested by Leonardo, who knows him from their time together at Inter and Paris Saint-Germain.

However, no agreement was reached. Maldini and Leonardo concluded that the conditions were no longer in place for them to continue their mandate and informed Malagò of their decision on Monday afternoon.

FIGC Urgently Searching for a New Coach

Following the departure of Maldini and Leonardo, responsibility for selecting Italy’s new head coach now falls directly to Giovanni Malagò.

The FIGC president has held an emergency meeting with representatives of the leagues and players’ unions to manage the growing crisis. He has made it clear that the appointment cannot be delayed any longer and is expected to be announced within the next few hours—or by tomorrow at the latest.

Roberto Mancini has re-emerged as the leading candidate and has long been considered Malagò’s preferred choice. Antonio Conte remains another possibility, although no concrete discussions have reportedly taken place so far.

Conte’s name is also linked to a possible restructuring of the Federation’s technical leadership. Giorgio Chiellini, the former Italy captain and current Juventus executive, is being considered as a potential replacement for Maldini as technical director.

The resignations of Maldini and Leonardo, only 16 days after their appointments, have plunged both the FIGC and the Italian national team into a major institutional and sporting crisis.