Paoloa Maldini and Leonardo who recently took over roles in the Italy Football federation has decided to make their exits amid drama over national team coach appointment.
Italian football has been thrown into fresh turmoil after Andrea Pirlo’s hopes of becoming Italy’s new national team coach collapsed amid controversy surrounding his commercial relationship with Russian betting company Fonbet.
The dramatic development has reportedly pushed Paolo Maldini and Leonardo to resign from their leadership roles, leaving the Italian Football Federation facing another major crisis that directly affects their national team.
Pirlo had emerged as the leading candidate to replace Gennaro Gattuso after several high-profile coaches, including Pep Guardiola, declined the opportunity to take charge of the Azzurri.
Maldini, who had recently accepted the role of FIGC technical director, strongly backed his former AC Milan teammate, while Leonardo also supported the appointment as part of a wider plan to rebuild Italian football.
However, the proposed appointment quickly became engulfed in controversy due to Pirlo’s ambassadorial partnership with Fonbet, a Russian betting company.
The criticism intensified because the Legendary midfielder recently appeared at a Fonbet-sponsored event in Moscow while Russia continues to face international scrutiny over the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Politicians, football officials, and sections of the Italian public questioned whether someone with such commercial ties should lead the national team.
Pirlo defended himself by insisting that his relationship with Fonbet was purely commercial and had no political motivation. The 2006 FIFA World Cup winner stressed that he had always acted within the law and fulfilled contractual obligations professionally.
Despite his explanation, the backlash continued to grow, making his appointment increasingly difficult for the federation to approve.
According to multiple reports in Italy, the federation’s reluctance to proceed with Pirlo’s appointment created a serious power struggle behind the scenes.
Maldini had reportedly accepted the technical director position only after receiving assurances that he would have significant authority over selecting the next national team coach. Once those assurances appeared to disappear, tensions escalated rapidly.
Reports indicate that both Maldini and Leonardo decided to step away from their roles after realizing their preferred candidate would not be appointed.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed the exits saying: “Paolo Maldini and Leonardo RESIGN from their roles as Italy Federation technical director and advisor.
“Decision to leave the project just 10 days after joining due to president Malagò being against appointing Andrea Pirlo as new head coach for Italian national team.
“The president didn’t approve Pirlo due to his connections with Russian brands; Maldini and Leonardo only wanted Pirlo and leave their roles immediately”.
The resignation of two of Italy’s most respected football figures represents another setback for a federation already under pressure following disappointing performances in recent years.
Italy is desperate to restore its reputation on the international stage after missing multiple FIFA World Cups and enduring managerial instability. Instead of beginning a new era under Maldini’s football vision, the federation now finds itself searching for both leadership and a new head coach.
With Pirlo officially out of the race, attention has shifted toward alternative candidates such as Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte, although no final decision has yet been announced.
The federation must now act quickly to restore stability before preparations for upcoming international competitions gather pace. The entire episode highlights how off-field issues can dramatically influence football decisions.
While Pirlo maintained that his sponsorship agreement was unrelated to politics, the controversy ultimately overshadowed his coaching credentials.
Whether the federation can recover from the resignations of Maldini and Leonardo remains one of the biggest questions facing Italian football as it attempts to rebuild its future.
