Key Takeaways:
- Paolo Maldini and Leonardo confirmed they have held discussions with Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti regarding the Italy coaching position
- The FIGC has now established a permanent office within Lega Serie A to coordinate strategy and schedules for Club Italia
- Plans were shared to implement unified guidelines connecting the senior national team, youth teams, and academies in a systematic overhaul
Leadership Outlines Vision Following Serie A Meeting
Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, newly installed as Italy’s technical director and special advisor respectively, revealed this afternoon that they have conducted discussions with both Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti as possible candidates for the Italy head coach role. The confirmation came during a press briefing following a meeting between FIGC President Giovanni Malagò, Maldini, Leonardo, and representatives of all 20 Serie A clubs, held to outline the immediate future of the national team.
🚨🇮🇹 Italian Federation new director Paolo Maldini: “We have approached Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola”.
“We wanted to start talking with the best world class managers to understand if they could be available for Italy job”. 👀 pic.twitter.com/tDL8v4iKSu
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 23, 2026
The press conference, initially scheduled for Malagò alone, saw him introduce both Maldini and Leonardo, who subsequently addressed the media. While journalists were advised not to inquire directly about the new coach’s identity, strategic ambitions and approaches were extensively discussed.
Strategic Approach to Appointing the Next Italy Coach
Maldini asserted the importance of patience, stating, “The ideal would be to have the coach by the end of this week, but perhaps even more ideal would be to wait for the person we really want.” He confirmed that conversations had taken place with two of the most prominent names in world football, noting, “We cannot deny that we also spoke to Carlo Ancelotti before talking to Pep, and it felt only right to start with those we considered to be the best in the world. So we needed to get a general idea of their availability.”
The duo acknowledged the urgency surrounding the appointment, but emphasised that they will not make a rushed decision. Ancelotti, who recently committed to Brazil, would face significant challenges to terminate his current role.
Revamping Italian Football Structures and Identity
Maldini and Leonardo underscored their shared vision for rejuvenating Italian football, both at senior and grassroots levels. The FIGC’s establishment of a permanent office within Lega Serie A for Club Italia was highlighted as a pivotal step to co-ordinate strategic planning and fixture scheduling among all stakeholders.
Maldini addressed the unique nature of his newly created role, stating, “My role did not exist before this, so we’ll try to give some football ideas to the Nazionale, which is a big change.” Both leaders stressed the widespread involvement and commitment to the renovation process across Italian football.
Unified Guidelines and Pathways from Academies to Senior Team
Leonardo outlined ambitious plans to unite the Nazionale, youth teams, and academies under one cohesive strategy. He remarked that, historically, no connecting strategy had linked these domains, outlining the intent to align development pathways, coaching methods, and playing style throughout Italian football.
He noted: “The Federation has three worlds, so it’s the Nazionale, the youth teams, and the academies. There was no strategy connecting all of them, but that is what we are trying to do now. It is not a new approach, we’ve seen other countries do it successfully.”
Leonardo explained the goal of shifting Italian football’s philosophy towards greater creativity, proactive play, and player autonomy — with clear tactical guidelines to be established for academy systems and upward through the ranks.
Searching for a Coach Aligned with the Federation’s Ideals
Regarding the desired profile for the new manager, Leonardo stressed the need for alignment in footballing philosophy and long-term continuity. He explained the federation’s commitment to establishing strategic consistency that can withstand coaching changes, rather than relying on short-lived tenures for system-wide direction.
The restructured approach places significant focus on constructing a robust and unified foundation, allowing Italian football to pursue renewed success both on the pitch and through the development of future generations.
