The Italian federation confirmed the hiring of Paolo Maldini as technical director and Leonardo as senior advisor on Saturday. The two former Milan stalwarts, who shared a squad in the 1990s, will steer a long‑term rebuild that follows the dismissal of Gennaro Gattuso after Italy missed a third straight World Cup.

During a press briefing, newly elected president Giovanni Malagò outlined a four‑year blueprint that stretches from the present to the 2030 World Cup, passing through the next European Championship. He saidomberie the appointments are the first step toward hiring a new head coach.

Leonardo brings experience as coach of Inter Milan and AC Milan, plus a stint as director at PSG. His partnership with Maldini aims to restore credibility and create a clear technical identity for the Azzurri.

The federation is weighing former Italy managers Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte as potential coaches. Mancini guided Italy to the 2021 Euro title, later managed Saudi Arabia and Al Sadd in Qatar. Conte led Italy at the 2016 Euro and recently resigned from Napoli.

These moves indicate a decisive shift toward stability and a structured development path. Fans now face a clearer timeline, while clubs will anticipate a fresh coaching search that could reshape Italy’s tactical approach ahead of the 2026 and 2030 tournaments.