Paolo Maldini and Leonardo have officially resigned from their roles within the Italian Football Federation and the Azzurri project, according to “Sky Sport Italia.” The abrupt departures occurred after federation president Giovanni Malago rejected the pair’s proposed candidates for the national team head coach position, triggered by political fallout over a sponsorship deal with Russian betting company Fonbet.
The Collapse of Maldini and Leonardo’s Project
Just 16 days after federation president Giovanni Malago appointed Paolo Maldini as technical director and Leonardo as his adviser, the high-profile management team walked away. Maldini also held leadership of the “Club Italia” project before handing his resignation to Malago. According to “Sky Sport Italia,” the breakdown began when a meeting with Serie A clubs confirmed that primary targets Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola had rejected overtures to lead the national team.
Did you know? Paolo Maldini’s leadership role included leadership of the “Club Italia” project.
The Fonbet Sponsorship Crisis and Andrea Pirlo
Following Guardiola’s direct refusal, Maldini turned to Andrea Pirlo, his former teammate and close friend, whose tactical vision aligned with the national team project. However, that nomination was blocked outright. According to “Sky Sport Italia,” the veto stemmed from political fallout surrounding a sponsorship agreement signed with Russian betting company Fonbet. Feeling entirely unsupported and unprotected by federation president Giovanni Malago, Maldini began weighing his resignation.
Internal Divisions and Successor Plans
Hours of intense discussions preceded the final departures. Leonardo pushed for Thiago Motta as an alternative candidate, leveraging his prior working relationships with Motta at Inter and Paris Saint-Germain. Ultimately, neither compromise worked, prompting Maldini and Leonardo to finalize their decision and inform Malago of their exit. With the technical management structure now vacant, Malago has taken personal control of the search, immediately advancing Roberto Mancini—his original first choice for the bench—to take over the Azzurri.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Paolo Maldini and Leonardo resign?
According to “Sky Sport Italia,” they resigned after federation president Giovanni Malago rejected their choice of Andrea Pirlo for head coach, a decision complicated by political fallout over a sponsorship deal with Russian betting firm Fonbet.
Who appointed Maldini and Leonardo to the Italian Football Federation?
Federation president Giovanni Malago appointed them just 16 days prior to their resignations, naming Maldini technical director and Leonardo his adviser.
Who is leading the search for the next Azzurri head coach?
Federation president Giovanni Malago is now running the search personally, having put forward Roberto Mancini as his primary candidate.
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