Paolo Maldini is officially the new technical director of the Italian national football team, a role built specifically around giving him full oversight of Club Italia’s technical and youth infrastructure.
Maldini becomes the first person to hold this title in the history of the Azzurri.
How we got here
The appointment lands under the leadership of Giovanni Malagò, who took over as FIGC president and moved quickly to restructure the federation from the top down. Reports circulating in late June 2026 described the deal as nearly complete, with Maldini characterized as “closing in” on acceptance after an initial period of reluctance.
The restructuring plan reportedly pairs Maldini with Antonio Conte as head coach, reflecting the backing of Serie A representatives.
