Paolo Maldini and Leonardo have confirmed they have held discussions with both Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti regarding the Italy national team coaching position. The new technical director and special advisor are spearheading a revamped recruitment process as the FIGC seeks a successor to lead the Azzurri.
Maldini revealed that Ancelotti was approached before Guardiola, describing the move as natural given their status among the world’s elite managers. However, Ancelotti recently committed to a new contract with Brazil, making his immediate availability unlikely. Talks with Guardiola included a weekend of meetings in Barcelona, though the Manchester City manager’s decision remains pending.
Waiting for the Right Candidate
While the federation hopes to appoint a coach swiftly, Maldini emphasised that patience may prove more valuable than haste. “The ideal would be to have the coach by the end of this week, but perhaps even more ideal would be to wait for the person we really want,” he stated. “There is a certain hurry, but not a hasty one.”
Leonardo echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of clarity in their selection. “It is understandable that people are in a rush, we are too, but the process is important to clarify what it is that we want,” he said.
Structural Revolution
The appointments of Maldini and Leonardo mark a significant shift in Italy’s technical structure. The FIGC has established a permanent office within Lega Serie A to coordinate strategy between the senior national team, youth sides, and academies.
Leonardo explained that Italian football has been “behind the times” and requires a proactive approach focused on player development. The new leadership aims to implement unified guidelines across all age groups to ensure consistent playing philosophy and teaching methods that give young players “the freedom to play and learn.”
Leonardo highlighted the need for a collective effort to revitalise the game, describing it as a “movement” involving leagues, fans, academies and media. He noted that he and Maldini had “shared ideas and dreams for many years” regarding structural reform, having previously worked together at Milan.
Philosophical Alignment
Central to their strategy is finding a coach whose footballing vision matches their own. “We want a coach who has views of football that are more or less like ours,” Leonardo explained. This alignment is considered crucial for maintaining continuity, particularly given the previous system where frequent changes at the top disrupted youth development pathways.
The new structure is designed to provide stability regardless of who occupies the senior team dugout, with Maldini noting that his role “did not exist before this” and represents a fundamental change in how the federation operates.