While fans in France and Morocco anticipated their crucial quarter-final match during the current tournament, the football community in Italy quietly marked the 20th anniversary of their 2006 World Cup triumph on July 9. However, the nostalgic images of Fabio Cannavaro hoisting the trophy in Berlin served primarily to reopen recent wounds for the Nazionale. According to reports from lequipe.fr, the Italian national team has not experienced the thrill of a major tournament knockout stage since 2014, leaving fans deeply frustrated.
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Subscribe Sekarang →Following another painful qualification collapse in March against Bosnie-Herzégovine, the newly elected president of the Italian Football Federation, Giovanni Malago, recognized that drastic measures were required to restore trust in the setup. Seeking both undeniable prestige and proven managerial expertise, Giovanni Malago turned to legendary former AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini, a figure who uniquely embodies the historic grandeur of Italian football with 26 club trophies and 126 international caps.
Paolo Maldini has already proved his capabilities in a directorial role, having successfully served as the technical director of AC Milan from 2019 until his departure in 2023. During his tenure, he was highly credited with orchestrating the squad that clinched the 2022 Serie A title, making crucial signings such as Theo Hernandez, Rafael Leao, and Fikayo Tomori. After rejecting numerous offers from foreign entities out of respect for his domestic ties, the 58-year-old icon agreed to step up for his country under one firm condition: the inclusion of his close ally, Leonardo.
The 56-year-old Brazilian executive, Leonardo, previously collaborated with Paolo Maldini at San Siro before his stint with PSG, establishing a partnership defined by mutual trust. Giovanni Malago described the duo as "the two faces of the same medal" as they penned four-year contracts running until the 2030 World Cup, with Paolo Maldini taking over as technical director and Leonardo operating as a strategic advisor. From editorial monitoring, their immediate and most critical objective is to fill the vacant managerial position with a top-tier candidate.
Several high-profile names have emerged on the shortlist, including former Napoli boss Antonio Conte and Stefano Pioli, who worked seamlessly with Paolo Maldini during their championship run at AC Milan. While Roberto Mancini remains a consideration due to his close ties with Giovanni Malago, his controversial exit to Arabie saoudite in 2023 complicates a return. Based on insider reports, the federation is even dreaming of an ambitious move for Pep Guardiola, relying on Leonardo's renowned negotiation skills to overcome the substantial financial hurdles required to lure the Spaniard to the international stage.