Maldini and Leonardo Depart FIGC Roles
Paolo Maldini has resigned from his position as technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), just 16 days after his appointment was officially announced. His adviser, Leonardo, also departed. The resignations follow a decision not to appoint Andrea Pirlo as the new head coach for Italy.
The FIGC had announced the appointments of Maldini and Leonardo to lead a significant restructuring within the federation. This shake-up came after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive tournament.
Pirlo Ruled Out Amid Sponsorship Concerns
The decision to not proceed with Pirlo’s appointment was made on Sunday, stemming from concerns regarding his connections to a Russian gambling firm. Pirlo, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, had been the preferred candidate of both Maldini and Leonardo for the head coach role.
Earlier on Monday, Pirlo confirmed he was no longer in contention for the position. He is a global ambassador for Russian bookmaker Fonbet, a role he took on in October. This association led to objections from some FIGC officials and politicians, particularly due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Pirlo defended his involvement with the company in an Instagram post, stating that the collaboration was exclusively commercial and sporting. He added that attributing a political meaning to it implied convictions he had never expressed and did not hold. At the time of the announcement, Pirlo was managing UAE Pro League club United FC in Dubai and had been prepared to terminate his contract there to take on the Italy job.
Several Italian politicians voiced their concerns regarding Pirlo’s potential appointment. Pina Picierno, a vice-president of the European parliament, suggested that Italian football needed a cultural, ethical, and managerial revolution after another missed World Cup qualification, implying Pirlo’s choice went in the opposite direction. Ignazio La Russa, the head of the Senate, expressed doubts about Pirlo’s suitability as a coach, despite acknowledging his past as a great player. Carlo Calenda, leader of the Azione party, stated that individuals promoting Russia after 2022 should not hold national office.
Previous Candidates and the Search for a Coach
The FIGC’s search for a successor to Gennaro Gattuso, who left his post by mutual consent in April after Italy’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, involved contacting other prominent coaches. Both Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti were approached for the role.
Maldini and Leonardo met with Guardiola over three days in Barcelona, presenting an extensive ‘Azzurro project’ aimed at rebuilding Italian football from its foundations, encompassing not only the senior national team but also other national teams. The FIGC was reportedly willing to make an exceptional adjustment to its budget to secure Guardiola. However, Guardiola ultimately rejected the proposal for personal reasons unrelated to football.
Ancelotti was also contacted before Guardiola, according to Maldini, but holds a contract with the Brazil national team. With Pirlo now out of the running, former Italy coaches Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte are reportedly being discussed as potential candidates for the vacant head coach position.
The Italy head coach role has been vacant since Gennaro Gattuso’s departure.
Source: skysports.com
Dominic Hayes is the Sports News Writer at NewsGB, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with five years of reporting experience. He started on a north-east sports desk. He holds a degree in Journalism from Teesside University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Middlesbrough, he follows pro golf and amateur boxing. “Fast and accurate is the only standard worth keeping.”
