Paolo Maldini Leads Italian National Team Revolution, Officially Appointed as FIGC Technical Director.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has officially appointed Paolo Maldini, legend of AC Milan and the Italian national team, as Technical Director in a major step to rebuild Gli Azzurri's glory after failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time.

This announcement was delivered by FIGC President Giovanni Malagò on Sunday, 12/7/2026. In its official statement, the federation stated Maldini has accepted the position, which he will hold until 2028.

"President Giovanni Malagò is pleased to announce that Paolo Maldini has accepted the position of Technical Director," the FIGC statement read.

This appointment marks one of the most critical decisions since Malagò was elected as FIGC President last June, replacing Gabriele Gravina who resigned after Italy once again failed to reach the World Cup final tournament. That failure triggered widespread criticism ranging from supporters to political circles, and deepened the crisis within Italian football.

Maldini carries a reputation as one of the greatest defenders in the history of football. Throughout his international career, the 58-year-old recorded 126 appearances for the Italian national team. At club level, he spent his entire professional career with AC Milan, delivering seven Serie A titles before later returning to serve as the club's technical director for four years.

Within FIGC's new structure, Maldini will be accompanied by his former AC Milan teammate Leonardo, who has been appointed as advisor. Both figures are expected to become the main driving force for technical reform of Italian football, ranging from youth development to the strategic direction of the national team setup.

The first task awaiting Maldini is to assist FIGC in appointing a new head coach for the national team. The position was left vacant after Gennaro Gattuso's contract was terminated, following Italy's World Cup playoff defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina last March - a result that confirmed Gli Azzurri would once again be absent from the world's biggest football stage.

For Italy, appointing Maldini is not merely about bringing a legendary figure into the federation's ranks. FIGC hopes that his experience, credibility and influence will serve as the initial foundation to rebuild the identity of Italian football and end the dark period that has seen the four-time world champions miss three consecutive World Cup editions.