By Francis Onyach - Reporter
Italy, July 27, 2026 - The ambitious rebuild of the Italian national team has been thrown into turmoil after Paolo Maldini and Leonardo resigned from their respective roles within the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) just days after accepting their appointments.
The pair stepped down following a major disagreement with newly elected FIGC president Giovanni Malagò, who blocked the appointment of Andrea Pirlo as Italy's new head coach over concerns surrounding the former midfielder's commercial relationship with a Russian betting company.
Their departures mark a dramatic setback for the federation's plans to rebuild the Azzurri after another disappointing international campaign.
Maldini was appointed FIGC technical director on 11 July, while former Brazil international and AC Milan executive Leonardo joined as a senior adviser to help oversee the national team's football project.
The appointments were viewed as the beginning of a fresh era, with two of football's most respected figures entrusted with reshaping Italy's sporting direction following the team's failure to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup.
However, their tenure lasted only 16 days.
According to multiple Italian media reports, both men submitted their resignations after concluding they could no longer continue the project once their preferred coaching appointment was rejected.
Pirlo Was Their Only Choice
Following Pep Guardiola's decision not to take the Italy job, Maldini and Leonardo focused exclusively on Andrea Pirlo.
The former Juventus and AC Milan midfielder quickly emerged as the leading candidate, and negotiations progressed to the point where a contract was ready to be signed.
Reports indicate Pirlo had agreed to the sporting project and was expected to be unveiled as Italy's new head coach before events took an unexpected turn.
The decisive issue was not Pirlo's coaching credentials but his commercial activities away from football.
Pirlo has served as a global ambassador for Fonbet, a Russian sports betting company, since working in the United Arab Emirates.
Although Pirlo has repeatedly insisted that the agreement was purely commercial and had no political significance, the partnership became increasingly controversial because of Russia's ongoing international isolation following the invasion of Ukraine.
Italian politicians and public figures questioned whether someone associated with a Russian brand should become the public face of the national team.
Facing growing political and public pressure, FIGC president Giovanni Malagò decided not to proceed with the appointment.
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Maldini and Leonardo Walk Away
The decision reportedly left Maldini and Leonardo deeply frustrated.
According to Sky Sport Italia and Football Italia, the pair believed Pirlo was the ideal candidate to lead Italy's long-term rebuilding project and were unwilling to remain if they could not choose the coach they considered best suited for the role.
Rather than continue under a different vision, both executives chose to resign immediately.
Their departures represent a significant blow to the federation, as they had only recently been brought in to oversee football operations and restore Italy's competitiveness on the international stage.
The resignations have exposed growing divisions within the Italian Football Federation.
Instead of presenting a united front following sweeping structural changes, the federation now finds itself searching not only for a new national team coach but also for replacements for two of the senior executives who were expected to guide the sporting project.
Italian media have described the situation as one of the biggest internal crises the federation has faced in recent years.
With Pirlo no longer a candidate and Maldini and Leonardo having resigned, FIGC president Giovanni Malagò is expected to take direct control of the search for Italy's next head coach.
According to reports, former Italy manager Roberto Mancini has emerged as one of the leading candidates, although no official appointment has yet been announced.
The federation must now rebuild its football leadership while preparing the national team for upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures and the qualification campaign for UEFA Euro 2028.
Maldini and Leonardo were expected to lead a long-term transformation of Italian football by combining their vast playing and executive experience.
Instead, their project has ended almost as soon as it began.
The collapse of Andrea Pirlo's appointment, driven by concerns over his association with a Russian betting company, ultimately proved to be the breaking point between the federation's new leadership and its football executives.
Their resignations leave the FIGC facing another period of uncertainty at a time when Italian football desperately needs stability, clear leadership and a unified vision for the future.