Paolo Maldini has resigned as Italy’s technical director only two weeks into the position, while advisor Leonardo also stepped down after disagreeing with the Football Federation of Italy (FIGC) on the future head coach of the national team.
The two departures came following a failed attempt by Maldini and Leonardo to push Andrea Pirlo for the role, with FIGC chairman Giovanni Malag not ready to approve of the former’s candidacy.
Maldini and Leonardo were ready to suggest alternatives like the previous Juventus and Bologna coach Thiago Motta, but the FIGC were not inclined to appoint any among them.
Malag urged Maldini and Leonardo to think about veteran coaches like Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini instead, but even they did not satisfy them.
Italian daily newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that the pair have expressed doubts over Mancini’s seriousness after he vacated the post for a stint in charge of the Saudi Arabian League and that Conte also looks too ambitious when we think of the future of the 2030 FIFA World Cup being four years away.
Pirlo was prevented from leading the Azzurri because he was not favored due to his position as brand ambassador for a Russian betting firm.
Maldini and Leonardo are of the opinion that the refusal undermined their authority over issues pertaining to the management of the football body; hence, they walked the chalk of quitting the job with immediate effect. FIGC to meet shortly to decide who will lead the Italian team as new manager, according to sources.
