Paolo Maldini and Leonardo have resigned from their positions with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), deepening the governing body's leadership crisis after plans to appoint Andrea Pirlo as Italy's new head coach collapsed.
According to Reuters and Sky Sport Italia, Maldini and Leonardo decided to step down only days after agreeing to lead a major restructuring project aimed at rebuilding the national team following Italy's failure to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup.
Maldini had been appointed FIGC technical director on 11 July, with the task of overseeing the federation's sporting strategy and selecting a successor to former head coach Gennaro Gattuso. Leonardo, the former Brazil international, joined the project as Maldini's adviser.
However, their plans were derailed after Andrea Pirlo withdrew from consideration for the Italy job amid growing criticism over his commercial ties to a Russian betting company. Pirlo had reportedly been Maldini's preferred candidate after Pep Guardiola turned down an approach from the federation.
The resignations leave newly elected FIGC president Giovanni Malagò facing an immediate challenge as Italy searches for both a new technical leadership team and a permanent national team coach.
Several high-profile managers have already emerged as potential candidates for the vacancy, including Roberto Mancini, Thiago Motta, and Antonio Conte, while the federation has yet to issue an official response regarding the departures.
The latest developments add to a turbulent period for Italian football, with the national team still attempting to recover from another failed World Cup qualification campaign and a disappointing season for Italian clubs in European competitions.
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