Italian Football Federation technical director resigns after 16 days amid head coach controversy
Paolo Maldini has resigned from his position as technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), just 16 days after his appointment. His departure follows a decision not to name Andrea Pirlo as the new Italy head coach, a choice Maldini and his adviser, Leonardo, had advocated for. Leonardo has also left his role.
The decision to not proceed with Pirlo’s appointment was made due to concerns over his connections to a Russian gambling firm. This development has led to further instability within the FIGC, which is currently undergoing a significant restructuring.
Head Coach Search Continues
The search for a new Italy head coach has been ongoing since Gennaro Gattuso’s departure. Maldini and Leonardo were brought in to lead a substantial overhaul at the FIGC, particularly after the Azzurri failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup tournament. Their vision included rebuilding Italian football from its foundations, encompassing not only the senior national team but also other national teams.
Prior to Pirlo, the FIGC had approached other prominent figures for the head coach role. Pep Guardiola was contacted, and Maldini and Leonardo met with him over three days in Barcelona to present their comprehensive ‘Azzurro project’. This project aimed for a complete overhaul of Italian football, with Guardiola as a central figure. However, Guardiola ultimately declined the offer for personal reasons.
Reports also indicate that Carlo Ancelotti was contacted before Guardiola. Ancelotti, however, is currently under contract with the Brazil national team.
Pirlo’s Russian Links and Reaction
Andrea Pirlo announced on Monday that he was no longer a candidate for the Italy head coach position. He had been considered the leading candidate after Guardiola ruled himself out. The former Azzurri midfielder, 47, serves as a global ambassador for Russian bookmaker Fonbet. This association prompted objections from some FIGC officials and politicians, especially given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Pirlo defended his involvement with Fonbet in an Instagram post, stating that his collaboration, which began with an ambassadorial agreement in October, was exclusively commercial and sporting. He asserted that attributing a political meaning to his collaboration was incorrect and did not reflect his beliefs. Pirlo is currently managing UAE Pro League club United FC in Dubai.
The controversy surrounding Pirlo’s ties to Fonbet and Russia intensified earlier in the spring. He participated in a Fonbet event held in Moscow, where he and former teammate Marco Materazzi signed autographs at Luzhniki Stadium. This event also featured pro-Kremlin pop star Shaman. Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych criticised Pirlo for appearing alongside Russian footballer Artem Dzyuba, who had expressed support for Russia on social media.
Several Italian politicians voiced their concerns over Pirlo’s potential appointment. Carlo Calenda of the centrist Azione party stated that individuals promoting Russia after 2022 should not hold national office. Pina Picierno, a vice-president of the European Parliament, commented that while Italian football needed a cultural, ethical, and managerial revolution, the choice of Pirlo would move in the opposite direction. Conversely, the Russian ambassador in Rome, Aleksey Paramonov, expressed sadness at the criticism Pirlo faced.
The Italian football community has been in a period of reflection following the national team’s failure to qualify for a third World Cup earlier this year. This included a loss on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina in April, which led to coach Gennaro Gattuso stepping down and a reshuffle within the FIGC leadership. Other names reportedly being considered for the head coach role include Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini.
Source: skysports.com
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
