Technical director Paolo Maldini and his adviser Leonardo have resigned from the Italian Football Federation following disagreements over the selection of a new national team coach.
Key facts
- •Paolo Maldini and Leonardo were appointed to their roles on July 11.
- •Giovanni Malago vetoed Andrea Pirlo due to his connections with a Russian betting company.
- •Roberto Mancini is now considered the favorite to take over as head coach.
- •Giorgio Chiellini has been linked as a potential successor to Maldini as technical director.
- •The resignations were announced following a period of internal disagreement regarding coaching candidates.
Technical director Paolo Maldini and his adviser Leonardo have resigned from the Italian Football Federation just 16 days after their appointment. Their departure follows a dispute with federation president Giovanni Malago regarding the search for a new head coach for the Italian national team.
Dispute Over Coaching Appointments
The resignations were triggered by the failed appointment of Andrea Pirlo as head coach. Malago vetoed Pirlo's selection due to his ties with a Russian betting company. Following this, the federation rejected the alternative candidates proposed by Maldini and Leonardo, including Thiago Motta. Conversely, Malago favored Roberto Mancini, who previously led Italy to victory at Euro 2020.
Reactions to the Resignations
Serie A president Ezio Simonelli expressed disappointment, stating that Maldini was a valuable choice for the long-term development of the sport. Giancarlo Abete, head of the Italian Amateur League, noted that the federation learned of the resignations through the media after a meeting had concluded. Officials indicated that the search for a new coach must now restart.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Sportal.bg.
