The Italian football federation has commenced a significant rebuild of its national team by appointing Paolo Maldini as technical director and Leonardo, the former Brazil international, as an advisor. This announcement was made on Saturday as the federation seeks to revamp its approach following the Azzurri's failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
Key Appointments in Italian Football
Giovanni Malagò, the newly elected president of the Italian football federation, emphasized the importance of these appointments as a first step towards finding a new coach for the national team. “They are two sides of the same coin; there's a four-year commitment that must take us from now until 2030, to the next World Cup, via the European Championship,” Malagò stated.
Maldini, a legendary figure in football, has a wealth of experience, while Leonardo brings a strong background as a former coach of Inter Milan and AC Milan, as well as a stint at Paris Saint-Germain. Their combined expertise is expected to steer the Azzurri towards future success.
Replacing Gennaro Gattuso
The appointments come in the wake of Gennaro Gattuso stepping down after Italy's disappointing performance, which saw them fail to qualify for the World Cup. The federation is now focused on identifying a suitable successor to lead the national team forward.
