Andrea Pirlo appeared to be on the verge of becoming Italy’s next head coach following the Azzurri’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, his expected appointment has reportedly been thrown into doubt for an unexpected reason, raising questions about the future of newly appointed technical director Paolo Maldini.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Maldini’s position within the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has also become uncertain. After an extensive search, Maldini and adviser Leonardo identified the former Juventus manager as the ideal candidate to lead Italy’s long-term rebuilding project following Luciano Spalletti’s departure.
What initially seemed like a straightforward appointment has now become increasingly complicated due to Pirlo’s commercial ties with Russian betting company Fonbet, where he serves as a global ambassador. Italian officials are also reportedly examining his association with Sergey Lomakin, president of United FC.
The controversy has extended beyond football and is said to have become a political headache for newly elected FIGC president Giovanni Malagò.
Although Pirlo continues to enjoy support from the federation’s football department, growing criticism has cast doubt over whether his appointment will ultimately go ahead.
Reports suggest concerns surrounding Pirlo’s links to Russia could prompt the federation to abandon Maldini’s recommendation and instead appoint a more established alternative.
Among the names being considered are Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte. However, Maldini is reportedly opposed to both options.
According to the report, Maldini believes Conte is better suited to short-term projects, as his managerial spells rarely last beyond two seasons. He also remains unconvinced about Mancini, who left the Italy job under controversial circumstances in 2023.
The uncertainty surrounding the coaching search has also placed Maldini’s own future in doubt.
The former AC Milan director reportedly accepted the technical director role only after receiving assurances that he would have significant influence over the selection of Italy’s next head coach.
If that authority is reduced, the report claims Maldini could consider stepping away from the project altogether.
Should Pirlo ultimately miss out on the job, former AC Milan executive Leonardo could be tasked with easing tensions between Maldini and the Italian Football Federation as the search for a new national team coach continues.
