FIGC President Giovanni Malagò has confirmed he is working with multiple contingencies to fill Italy’s vacant coaching and technical director positions, with formal announcements expected by the end of next week.
Following his recent election to lead the Italian Football Federation, Malagò has opted to alter the usual structure by creating a brand new technical director position for Club Italia. This figure will prove crucial for the choice of head coach, representing a shift from the traditional process where the federation president would hire the coach directly.
Speaking about the recruitment process, Malagò stated he holds “a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C” for both roles. He emphasised that no candidate is guaranteed the position despite widespread speculation linking specific names to the posts.
Leading Candidates
Former Milan defender Paolo Maldini is the preferred choice for the technical director role. For the coaching position, Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini are among the rumoured candidates.
When asked whether particular candidates would be compatible together—such as Maldini and Conte—Malagò refused to speculate on specific combinations. “I wouldn’t get too fossilized on certain names,” he said. He added: “There aren’t just a couple of candidates. In life, when time is tight and there are big problems to deal with, and above all deadlines looming, you need a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C too.”
EURO 2032 Deadline
The coaching search is not the only challenge occupying the federation. Italy must submit its final list of five stadiums for the country’s EURO 2032 co-hosting bid with Turkey by 31 July, creating a congested calendar for Malagò’s administration.
Malagò described the tournament as “an opportunity for our country as a whole” and suggested the tight schedule has its benefits. “It is positive to have deadlines, because big events force you to move quickly,” he said.
The dual recruitment represents a significant restructuring of the national team setup. The technical director will oversee Club Italia’s broader sporting project, with the new coach then taking charge of the senior side.