Paolo Maldini has officially returned to Italian football after accepting a senior role within the country’s national federation.
The former Italy and AC Milan captain has been appointed technical director of the Italian Football Federation and will also serve as president of Club Italia.
Leonardo, his former Milan teammate and fellow football executive, will work alongside him as an advisor during a four-year project intended to rebuild Italy’s national-team structure.
Maldini handed wide-ranging responsibilities
According to the FIGC’s official announcement, Maldini’s responsibilities will extend beyond the senior men’s national team.
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He will oversee the federation’s wider technical sector, including the pathway connecting Italy’s youth teams with the senior side. The position therefore carries greater authority than a conventional advisory role attached solely to the national team.
FIGC president Giovanni Malagò said:
“Maldini was always my first choice.”
Malagò explained that he regarded the former defender as the right person to supervise the federation’s technical structure and help shape its sporting direction.
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Leonardo joins as advisor
Maldini will not undertake the project alone. Leonardo has joined the new leadership structure as an advisor after Maldini proposed involving him during negotiations.
The pair previously played together at AC Milan and later built considerable experience in senior management positions.
Malagò described them as “two sides of the same coin” and said the amount of work involved made Leonardo’s presence particularly valuable.
The agreement will run for four years, covering the next European Championship and the qualification process for the 2030 World Cup.
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First major decision awaits
One of Maldini’s most immediate responsibilities will be helping to appoint Italy’s next national-team coach.
As reported by AS following the confirmation, the coaching decision will be shared between Malagò, Maldini and Leonardo rather than being made by the federation president alone.
Malagò said he wanted to respect the new sporting structure and involve both men in determining the direction of the senior national team.
Their choice of coach will provide the first major indication of how Maldini intends to approach his new role.
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An Italian icon returns
Maldini made 126 appearances for Italy between 1988 and 2002, captaining the country and competing at four World Cups and three European Championships.
The FIGC’s record of his international career confirms that he represented the Azzurri on 126 occasions before retiring from international football following the 2002 World Cup.
At club level, Maldini spent his entire playing career with AC Milan. As detailed by the club’s official profile, he made 902 competitive appearances and won 26 trophies across 25 seasons.
He later returned to Milan in an executive capacity and contributed to the club’s return to the Champions League and its Serie A title victory in the 2021/22 season.
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His new appointment marks the beginning of another demanding chapter. This time, Maldini’s task is not to lead Italy from the pitch, but to create the structure capable of returning the national team to the highest level.
