Italian football is going through another period of turbulence. Paolo Maldini and Leonardo submitted their resignations from the FIGC barely sixteen days after taking up their posts, plunging the governing body back into a governance crisis it was already struggling to emerge from.
The appointment of Andrea Pirlo, a stumbling block
According to several Italian media outlets, the break came following the Federation's refusal to validate the appointment of Andrea Pirlo as head coach of the Nazionale. The former midfielder was reportedly ruled out due to his role as ambassador for a Russian sports betting company, a matter deemed incompatible with federal requirements.
This disagreement triggered an immediate rift between the federal leadership and the duo, who had nonetheless arrived with the stated ambition of relaunching the Italian national team's sporting project. Their hasty departure illustrates the deep tensions currently running through Italian football.
Chiellini and Mancini cited as potential successors
The FIGC must now urgently restructure its organisation chart. Several names are already circulating in federation corridors:
- Giorgio Chiellini, mentioned for a sporting director role;
- Roberto Mancini, cited as one of the frontrunners to take charge of the Nazionale.
Italy, already weakened by several months of instability, now faces a major new challenge as the next international fixtures approach.
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