Temi Kings
A move aimed at rescuing Italian football from its deepest historical slump, newly appointed FIGC Technical Director Paolo Maldini has publicly confirmed that the federation has opened high-level discussions with both Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti to take over as the next head coach of the Italian national team. Following the departure of Gennaro Gattuso in the wake of another devastating World Cup qualification failure, the four-time world champions find themselves searching for a transformative tactical mastermind capable of restoring international pride to the Azzurri. Speaking alongside newly elected FIGC President Giovanni Malagò and special advisor Leonardo following a crucial assembly with Serie A executives in Milan, Maldini candidly revealed that the Italian federation set its sights strictly on world-class elite managers right from the start.
Maldini admitted that the federation first reached out to legendary tactician Carlo Ancelotti before holding face-to-face meetings in Barcelona with former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to gauge their availability. While Ancelotti remains tied to his managerial contract with the Brazil national team through 2030, and Guardiola recently parted ways with Manchester City after a decade of domestic and European dominance, Maldini emphasized that soundings were necessary to test the waters with the best coaches on the planet. Despite public pressure and media speculation surrounding potential wage demands, Maldini made it clear that while appointing a coach swiftly remains ideal, the federation will prioritize patience to secure their absolute top priority rather than rushing into a secondary option.
The appointment of Maldini as Technical Director alongside his longtime colleague Leonardo marks a total structural overhaul for Italian football. Having suffered the indignity of watching three consecutive World Cup tournaments from home, the Italian Football Federation is placing its entire sporting rebuild in the hands of one of the game’s greatest defenders and leaders. With the full backing of Italian football icons like Dino Zoff and overwhelming support from fans across the country, Maldini’s ambitious pursuit of Guardiola or Ancelotti signals a clear message: Italy is ready to spare no effort to reclaim its seat at the top table of world football.
