Italy names Maldini as new technical director
Former international defender Paolo Maldini has been named as technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) as Italy seeks to get the national side back on track after failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the past three tournaments.
Maldini, who won 126 caps for Italy, served in the same role for four years at AC Milan, where he had spent his entire playing career and helped the side to win seven Serie A titles.
His new appointment comes after Giovanni Malago was elected FIGC president last month after heading the organising committee for February's Milano Cortina Olympics Winter Games.
"President Giovanni Malago is pleased to announce that Paolo Maldini has accepted the position of Technical Director of the Federation," an FIGC statement read.
The FIGC added that Brazilian Leonardo would serve as an adviser to his former Milan team-mate Maldini. Local media reported that Maldini, 58, had signed a contract until 2028.
Malago, the former head of the Italian National Olympic Committee, succeeded Gabriele Gravina, who resigned after a shock 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying exit in April sparked widespread outrage among fans and politicians.
Maldini will begin his tenure by searching for a new Italy coach after the federation parted ways with Gennaro Gattuso after a defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in a FIFA World Cup play-off in March, which left the four-time champion out of football's showpiece event for a third consecutive edition.
