Malagò: “Maldini ideal for the position of technical director of the

The name of Paolo Maldini is circulating with insistence for the position of technical director of the Nazionale. And it was Giovanni Malagò, president of the Italian Federation (FIGC), who relaunched the issue during an intervention on Radio Rai. According to Malagò, Maldini “has the skills, the history, the skills” which make him “the ideal profile for the role of technical director”, not only because of his playing career but also for his managerial experience.

However, the president of the FIGC was keen to lay down safeguards: people who hold responsibilities “also have a plan B, often also a plan C”. Malagò assures that he is “very calm” and is giving himself “the maximum this week to get all the sums”, proof that no hasty decision will be taken.

On the question of the coach, Malagò was clear: he “did not speak with any coach, I did not call anyone”. He recalls the consistency desired by the federation: “It would be in contradiction with what I proposed, that is to say deciding the coach with the technical director. » Translation: the choice of coach must be made in coordination with the person responsible for technical direction, hence the importance of first formalizing this key position.

Image

Despite the clearly shown interest in Maldini, the manager indicates that the former Milan captain is taking his time. Asked about a possible deadline, Malagò qualifies: “We need to know all the details of the question. I too initially said no to the call from the Nazionale, and then finally put myself forward as a candidate. » He invites us to interpret this caution as seriousness, and not as negative hesitation.

Beyond the debate on names, Malagò spoke about the medium-term strategy for the national team. According to him, “there is a need to rebuild the movement, even if everything is not to be thrown away. There are important young people, we have to see how to make them grow in the next two or three years. » He listed upcoming deadlines: the Nations League, the (European) qualifications and then Euro 2028. “In two years, the world qualifications”, he added, before insisting on his work horizon: six years, until Euro 2032, “an ideal deadline to build the best possible athlete”.

Now it remains to observe the coming days: will Maldini accept the role? And if not, what alternatives will the FIGC implement? Whatever the case, Malagò shows that it wants to move forward methodically, by articulating sporting choices and structural coordination around a technical director who will have to set the roadmap for the Nazionale for the coming years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this matter now?

This Paolo Maldini update affects fans, teams, and the wider season picture — read above for the full breakdown.

What happens next?

Stay tuned for official updates and follow our coverage for the latest developments.