Maldini increasingly likely for Italy NT role

After Italy again failed to qualify for the World Cup, a comprehensive restructuring process began at the federation. In this process, led by new FIGC president Giovanni Malagò, a technical/sporting director (direttore tecnico) position that did not previously exist is being created with the national team. According to reports, the frontrunner for this role is one of Italian football's legendary players, Paolo Maldini.

It is important to understand this position correctly: this role is not the head coach job that manages the team on the pitch. The newly created position is designed to serve as a daily bridge between the federation, Serie A clubs, players and the coaching staff. The role is also expected to take pressure off the head coach and to play a central function in the process of choosing the new coach. The head coach will be determined by a separate appointment; in the Italian press, names such as Mancini and Conte are among the candidates for that job.

According to reports, while Maldini is the name placed first for this role, it is stated that the process is not yet finalized. Reports indicate the experienced figure has some hesitation about the role, while it was conveyed that, against the possibility of a rejection by Maldini, the federation is also weighing alternative names such as Claudio Ranieri. With this picture, which direction the process takes in the coming days is awaited with interest.

Maldini, who became a legend in the Milan and Italy shirts and is known as "Il Capitano," took on executive duties after retiring and held a similar technical/sporting director role at Milan. Should the experienced figure take on such a role under the national team umbrella, it is regarded as an important step for Italy's long-term sporting planning. The federation's decisions on both this role and the head coach position are among the most crucial storylines on the Italian football agenda.

Source: Di Marzio
Image: Football Italia