Maldini and Leonardo Exit Italian Federation After Pirlo Appointment Collapses

Sports

Italian football legends Paolo Maldini and Leonardo have reportedly left the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) just 10 days after accepting their roles, following a disagreement over the appointment of the national team's next head coach.

According to reports, Maldini and Leonardo strongly supported Andrea Pirlo as their preferred candidate to lead the Italy national team into a new era. However, the proposal was rejected by FIGC President Giovanni Malagò, who reportedly raised concerns over Pirlo's commercial connections with Russian brands.

The disagreement proved decisive, with the coaching appointment collapsing before an agreement could be reached.

As a result, Andrea Pirlo will not become Italy's new head coach, while both Maldini and Leonardo have decided to leave the federation, ending their involvement less than two weeks after joining.

The unexpected developments have created fresh uncertainty over the future direction of the Italian national team, with the federation now expected to resume its search for a new manager.

Neither the Italian Football Federation nor the individuals involved have officially confirmed the reports, but the developments have become one of the biggest talking points in Italian football as the Azzurri continue preparations for upcoming international competitions.