Announcing the appointments of Maldini and Leonardo, Malago called it a four-year plan designed to carry Italy through to the 2030 World Cup, with a European Championship along the way.
Yet the arrangement fell apart in little more than two weeks as tensions mounted over a series of failed hires.
They first approached former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, offering a major salary and wide latitude to shape the role and Italy’s football structure. After considering it, Guardiola declined, choosing to continue his break from management.
They then sounded out Carlo Ancelotti, a four-time Champions League winner who oversaw Brazil’s disappointing last-16 World Cup exit but was kept on by the Brazilian FA. Italian reports say he quickly dismissed their interest.
Next up was Andrea Pirlo, but the FIGC hierarchy ruled him out amid public and political backlash over his promotion of a Russian betting firm, including sponsored trips to Moscow after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Pirlo, who spoke of his “great bitterness” over the episode, became the flashpoint that appears to have pushed Maldini and Leonardo over the edge.
Whether Pirlo—once a team-mate of both men at AC Milan—would have been the right choice is up for debate.
For all his suave image, his coaching track record is underwhelming: sacked after one season at Juventus, gone after a year at Turkey’s Fatih Karagümrük, dismissed again following a year at Serie B Sampdoria, and last season spent in charge of UAE side Dubai United.
With Pirlo off the table—and their wider strategy undercut—the responsibility for the appointment fell back to Malago.
The FIGC’s initial favourite was Roberto Mancini, who delivered Euro 2020 but also oversaw Italy’s failure to reach the 2022 World Cup after defeat by North Macedonia, before abruptly resigning to take a lucrative job with Saudi Arabia.
Mancini has now returned—ending the search—and 74-year-old Claudio Ranieri, formerly of Chelsea and Leicester City, has agreed to succeed Maldini as technical director.
Convincing the public that these appointments amount to the sweeping renewal Malago promised will be a tough sell.