Italy in Chaos: Maldini Reportedly Set to Resign Days After Being Hired
The crisis inside the Italian Football Federation has deepened after Andrea Pirlo's appointment as the next Italy head coach collapsed. The situation has reportedly led to the resignations of Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, only weeks after taking on their new roles.
Uncertainty continues to surround the Italy National Team. What initially appeared to be the beginning of a new sporting project has instead turned into another institutional crisis for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) after Andrea Pirlo's expected appointment as national team head coach fell through.
The failed move triggered major turmoil within the federation and set off a chain of events that has further clouded the future of the Azzurri, who are already facing one of the most difficult periods in their history after missing a third consecutive FIFA World Cup.
The Pirlo Situation Sparks Internal Turmoil
Andrea Pirlo had emerged as the leading candidate after several high-profile managers were ruled out of the race to coach Italy. However, the process came to a halt because of his commercial partnership with a betting company, ultimately preventing him from taking charge of the national team.
The outcome reportedly created significant tension within the FIGC, particularly because Paolo Maldini and Leonardo had strongly backed the former Juventus and AC Milan midfielder as the ideal figure to lead the national team's rebuilding process.
Multiple reports indicate that both executives chose to step down only days after officially assuming their positions, throwing the federation back into uncertainty.
Italy Faces More Questions About Its Future
As the federation attempts to contain the crisis, Italian sports authorities have already called for swift action to prevent further damage to the country's football image. So far, the FIGC has not released an official statement confirming the resignations, although several federation officials acknowledged that tensions were running high following the collapse of the negotiations with Pirlo.
The potential departures of Maldini and Leonardo would force Italy to rethink its sporting project once again, leaving the national team without a head coach and under increasing pressure to regain its place among the world's elite.
With a Federal Council meeting scheduled in the coming hours, the Italian Football Federation is expected to clarify the situation and outline the next steps in its search for the manager who will oversee the rebuilding of the Azzurri. For now, however, the process appears to have begun with far more questions than answers.
