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Champions LeagueJuly 13, 2026

Italy, the Maldini era begins: focus on young talent,

Paolo Maldini takes on a dual role in the Italian national football team, focusing on the development of young talent and the selection of a new coach.

Italy, the Maldini era begins: focus on young talent,

Italy, the Maldini era begins: focus on young talent,

According to Tuttomercatoweb.

Background

Paolo Maldini, a legend of Italian football, brings his extensive experience to this new role. His connection to Italia and his understanding of the demands at the highest level could be crucial to leading the national team into a successful future.

Why this is important

Paolo Maldini takes on a key role in the restructuring of Italian football, which is crucial for the future of the national team. His focus on youth development could strengthen Italy's competitiveness at international level in the long term. These changes are particularly important given that the senior national team has had disappointing results in recent years.

Key findings

  • Italy, the Maldini era begins: focus on young talent.
  • Paolo Maldini takes on a dual role in the Italian national football team and focuses on the development of young talent and the selection of a new coach.
  • Italia, the era Maldini ha inizio: attention to life, action on CT and model club for the Figc.
Image The Italian national team and the entire football association are to be radically restructured by Paolo Maldini in this "double mandate" at the FIGC, similar to the model of the clubs at the request of President Malagò. What it is in detail: Paolo Maldini starts with a double mandate and has a long list of priorities that need to be clarified, first and foremost the choice of the new coach of the national team, although he and Leonardo may not be guided by the hottest names so far, such as Conte or Mancini. The real novelty, however, is structural: for the first time, the role of president of Club Italia - alongside that of technical director of the senior national team - will be separated from that of president of the Football Federation, a decision by Malagò following the disappointing results of the senior national team. Statutory decisions on coaches remain with the President of the Federation, but in practice they are shared with the technical officers such as Maldini and Leonardo, similar to an idea that Gravina wanted to initiate in 2024 with his technical commission. This is reported by the Gazzetta dello Sport. The dual mandate is intended to avoid overlaps and use Maldini's skills: Malagò wants a structure for the national team similar to that of a club, with a president who oversees everything and a sporting director who manages everything related to the first team. To Together with Malagò and Leonardo, Maldini will redefine the coaches of the various national teams, without fundamentally overturning the existing system. Great emphasis is placed on youth, a shared priority for Malagò, who is looking towards the 2030 World Cup, but also the European Championships and getting the U21s back to the Olympics after missing four qualifications in a row. The new dt (sporting director) has to sort out contractual issues and select his staff, with Maurizio Viscidi being a likely reference person at the moment. Maldini and Leonardo will often stay in Coverciano (the training center of the Italian national team), but they will not have a permanent home there, but are free to look there and elsewhere to improve the situation, including seeking the opinions of players and coaches. A huge commitment that is approached with a clear goal.

What happens next

Maldini will initially focus on selecting a new coach, although he and Leonardo could potentially make unconventional decisions. Separating roles within the FIGC could enable more efficient decision-making and define responsibilities more clearly. In the coming months, the implementation of these structural changes will be crucial to get the Italian national team back on track to set course.

Frequently asked questions

What is happening to the Italian national team?

The Italian national team is being radically restructured by Paolo Maldini in order to establish a new club structure.

Who confirmed the changes?

The changes were confirmed by President Malagò and the Gazzetta dello Sport.

Why these changes in Italian football now?

The changes come after the senior national team's disappointing results to create a better structure.

What changes are there in the choice of trainer?

The role of the President of Club Italia is separated from that of the President of the Football Federation when it comes to the choice of coach.

How is the structure of the national team organized?

The new structure will see Maldini and Leonardo working together to redefine the coaching of the national teams, similar to a club.

Related articles

Häufig gestellte Fragen

What happens to the Italian national team?
The Italian national team is being radically restructured by Paolo Maldini to establish a new club structure.
Who confirmed the changes?
The changes were confirmed by President Malagò and the Gazzetta dello Sport.
Why these changes in Italian football now?
The changes come after the senior team's disappointing results to create a better structure.
What changes are there in the choice of trainers?
The role of President of Club Italia will be separated from that of President of the Football Federation when it comes to the choice of coach.
How is the structure of the national team organized?
The new structure will see Maldini and Leonardo working together to redefine national team coaching, similar to a club.
What happened in this story?
Italy, the Maldini era begins: focus on young talent, summarizes the main development covered in this report.
Who confirmed this news?
See the source attribution in the article for where this report was first published or corroborated.
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