Paolo Maldini was named the new technical director of the FIGC yesterday. This came as a surprise as he was rumoured to not wanting the job. It seemed that the Azzurri would be forced to go into a different direction. Maldini is now in charged of turning around a failing footballing nation.

However, he won’t do so alone as he will bring one of his former teammates along. Leonardo Araujo will join Maldini on the journey to try and turn around the Azzurri. Leonardo has held executive jobs in the past, including working with Maldini at AC Milan.

Milan Sporting Strategy & Development Director Paolo Maldini and AC Milan Club Sporting Director Leonardo De Araujo before the Serie A match between…

The first job the two will have is finding a new manager for the mens national team. This comes after the dismissal of another one of Maldini’s former teammates, Gennaro Gattuso. Gattuso was fired after the Azzurri missed their third world cup in a row after losing to Bosnia in a playoff on penalties.

Roberto Mancini has been the leading name to take over the job. Mancini has held the role in the past taking the Azzurri to glory in 2021, by winning the Euros. Mancini left the job after that to take over as the manager of Saudi Arabia. Since then he spent last season at Qatari side Al Sadd.

Roberto Mancini, head coach of Al Sadd SC, reacts during the Qatar Stars League match between Al-Sailiya SC and Al-Sadd SC at Al Bayt Stadium in Al…

However, he since stepped down from that role as he wants to take the Azzurri job. He has already given his availability to the  board and is liked by FIGC president Giovanni Malago. Paolo Maldini’s feelings on Mancini are unknown, which could hurt his chances at a job.

Gazzetta Dello Sport is now reporting that Maldini does have a dream name in mind. This would be Pep Guardiola who left his job as manager of Manchester City at the end of last season. Pep is now without a job for the first time in a decade, and has shown interest in international management in the past.

His interest in management internationally, and Maldini’s dream of hiring Guardiola makes a deal possible. But, there is still issues for him joining the Azzurri. Firstly, he has high salary demands which hurts the deals chances, espically without finical support from the Serie A. He is also not Italian, while non Italians are allowed, there has only ever been two and they are typically looked down upon when in consideration for the role.

Giovanni Malago has finally made his first large decision as the new FIGC president. This came after his appointment a fortnight ago, when Malago was officaly elected. He was put in charge of a failing governing body, which was a major part of the reason, the Azzurri had missed out on three World Cups.

Malago, was trusted in steering the ship of the Azzurri back to World Cup paradise. First he would need to appoint some names to help him do so, mainly a technical director and a new manager. Malago has appointed his techinical director, none other than Azzurri legend Paolo Maldini, with it being offical confirmed by the Azzurri.

Maldini was a big get for Malago as he seemed inclined to turn the job down. Malago saw him as the number one option, but Maldini wasn’t completley on board. In fact all the rumors saw him turning the role down, in favour of something else. Which is why the announcement of his appointment came as a complete suprise.

But, now the focus will be forced to shift to finding a new manager for the Azzurri squad. The leading favourite for the role is still Roberto Mancini according to Fabrizio Romano. This comes as Mancini has given his full avabliabilty to the Azzurri, leaving his role at Al Sadd for the Azzurri job.

Sadd’s Italian coach Roberto Mancini instructs his players during the Qatar Stars League match between Al-Sadd and Al-Shamal at Jassim Bin Hamad…

Mancini also already has a good relationship with Malago, which will help foster a move. But, he isn’t the only name for the job as Antonio Conte has also made it known that he wants the job. Conte left his role at Napoli in the roles of managing the Azzurri for a second term, though no offer has been made to him as of yet.

Giovanni Malago was officially named president of the FIGC a fortnight ago. This comes as Malago has been put in charge of rebuilding the Azzurri system. The men’s national team missed the ongoing World Cup, the third in a row the Azzurri will be watching from home.

Malago is the one taking charge of a failing nation in the hopes of turning them around. His first jobs will be hiring a head-coach and a President to lead the FIGC into the future. Roberto Mancini is the leading name for the head-coach but Antonio Conte is still in the running.

Roberto Mancini, head coach of Al Sadd SC, reacts during the Amir Cup quarter-final match between Al Sadd SC and Al-Shamal SC at Ahmad bin Ali…

However, the president role is the more undefined role, but Malago does have a dream target ready. Paolo Maldini is the dream name for the role, but there is no guarantee he will take the role. Fabrizio Romano however, has discussed the rumour as Malago did meet with Maldini.

There meeting came yesterday, as the two discussed if it was possible for Maldini to take a role. Maldini is not necessarily closed to the role, but he is uncertain if he wants to take it yet. However, if he does take the role he will have some of his personal conditions for the role.

Maldini wants to ensure that he has real authority in the role and can undergo the changes he wants. This is because he wants to help shape the future of the national team and make changes needed. He doesn’t want to be stopped, by bureaucracy and focus on purely football which has stopped some of his predecessors.