Italian Football Chaos Deepens: Paolo Maldini Resigns Amid Azzurri's Search For New Boss

Published 28 July 2026 · sports

Italian Football Chaos Deepens: Paolo Maldini Resigns Amid Azzurri's Search For New Boss Published By, Last Updated: July 28, 2026, 15:00 IST Paolo Maldini has

Italian Football Chaos Deepens: Paolo Maldini Resigns Amid Azzurri's Search For New Boss Published By, Last Updated: July 28, 2026, 15:00 IST Paolo Maldini has resigned as FIGC technical director after Andrea Pirlo's candidacy collapsed, with Roberto Mancini now leading the race for Italy coach. Rapid Read Paolo Maldini and his assistant Leonardo (X) Italian football continues to plunge deeper into the abyss. The turmoil surrounding Italy’s search for a new head coach has taken another dramatic turn, with Paolo Maldini stepping down as technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) just over two weeks after taking the role. According to Sky Sport Italia, Maldini resigned following the federation’s decision not to proceed with Andrea Pirlo’s appointment as Italy manager, a move that has triggered yet another shake-up within the Azzurri setup. Maldini’s adviser, Leonardo, has also left his position, bringing an abrupt end to a project that lasted just 16 days after the pair were officially unveiled by the FIGC.

Paolo Maldini has just dropped a bombshell in a recent interview, explaining why he and Leonardo are resigning from their roles as the Italy national team’s technical director and advisor just 10 days after signing their contracts.Paolo Maldini 🗣️: “One of my biggest mistakes… pic.twitter.com/kaTOsrxe69 — SIR1⭐️ (@sa10nee) July 27, 2026 The breakdown reportedly stemmed from the federation’s decision to abandon talks with Pirlo over concerns surrounding his commercial ties to Russian bookmaker Fonbet. Pirlo had been Maldini and Leonardo’s preferred candidate to succeed Gennaro Gattuso, but negotiations were halted before an agreement could be reached. A compromise involving former Juventus coach Thiago Motta was discussed internally, but reports claim Maldini and Leonardo were unwilling to continue without clear authority over footballing decisions. “I have always been a man of principles. Throughout my career, whether as a player or an executive, I have never believed in compromising my values to protect a position.

If I cannot defend a vision I genuinely believe in, then I have no reason to remain," Maldini stated in a presser. “We accepted these roles believing we had the mandate to make difficult decisions for the future of Italian football. The moment we realised that mandate no longer existed, our decision was simple." “We did not resign because our preferred candidate was rejected. We resigned because the trust that brought us here disappeared. Without trust, leadership becomes a title, not a responsibility." With Maldini now gone, FIGC president Giovanni Malagò has assumed responsibility for the coaching search, and former Italy boss Roberto Mancini has quickly emerged as the leading candidate. During his previous spell, Mancini guided the Azzurri to their memorable Euro 2020 triumph over England before resigning in August 2023. Meanwhile, the FIGC must also find a replacement for Maldini, with Giorgio Chiellini, Giuseppe Bergomi and Claudio Ranieri all reportedly under consideration for the technical director’s role.