Maldini appointed Italy technical director as federation seeks rebuild

The Italian football federation took another step toward a rebuild of the national team by hiring Paolo Maldini as technical director and former Brazil international and 1994 World Cup winner Leonardo as advisor, according to ESPN. Giovanni Malagò, who led the Milan Cortina Olympics organising committee and is the newly elected president of the crisis-laden federation, announced the appointments on Saturday.

The moves represent a structural shift for Italian football at a moment of transition. Maldini, whose 25-year career at AC Milan made him one of the game's most decorated defenders, brings extensive experience of elite European football and club management. Leonardo, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994 and later managed Paris Saint-Germain, adds international perspective and championship pedigree to the federation's technical leadership.

The appointments come as the federation attempts to stabilise itself after years of organisational strain. Malagò's election as president in July 2026 marked a change in leadership for the federation, which has faced recurring financial and administrative pressures. The dual appointment of Maldini and Leonardo suggests the federation intends to establish clearer technical direction and oversight of the national team's development.

For Italian football's standing in world sport, the hires signal ambition to rebuild credibility at the elite level. The federation's choices reflect a strategy of importing experience from successful club environments—Maldini's decades at Milan and Leonardo's track record in top-tier competition—to guide the Azzurri through a period of renewal. The structure mirrors approaches other national federations have adopted when seeking to refresh their technical infrastructure and restore competitive performance at international tournaments.