Giovanni Malagò Eyes Paolo Maldini for Technical Overhaul as FIGC Presidential Race Intensifies

Paolo Maldini is in talks to become the Technical Director of the FIGC, serving as the center of Giovanni Malagò’s plan to rebuild Italian football in 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 2:46 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from YSScores

The Architect of a New National Identity

The Italian Football Federation is on the precipice of a seismic leadership shift as negotiations with Paolo Maldini reach a critical juncture. Currently, the most prominent candidate for the federation presidency, Giovanni Malagò, is exerting significant pressure to integrate the AC Milan legend into the federation’s executive core. Should Malagò secure the presidency on June 22, the plan involves appointing Maldini as the Technical Director, a role designed to centralize the sporting vision of a nation currently enduring its most profound competitive crisis. This move is seen as an essential step in repairing the technical foundations that were shattered by Italy's unprecedented inability to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, following prior failures in 2018 and 2022.

Bridging the Gap Between Legend and Administrator

Maldini’s potential return to a high-ranking technical role comes less than three years after his acrimonious departure from AC Milan, where he served as the architect of their 2022 league success. His candidacy is being championed by prominent figures who view the former defender as someone capable of providing the moral and technical authority required to modernize the Italian system. Unlike previous appointments, Maldini is viewed as a proactive director who would oversee youth development, coaching standards, and the scouting networks that have stagnated under the outgoing administration. By securing Maldini, the incoming leadership aims to leverage the icon's global prestige to restore credibility to a federation currently reeling from high-level resignations and public frustration.

The Political Landscape of the June 22 Election

The appointment of a new Technical Director is inextricably linked to the outcome of the presidential vote, where Malagò currently enjoys the overwhelming support of the Serie A elite. In recent assemblies, 18 out of 20 top-flight clubs voiced their backing for the former Olympic chief, viewing him as the pragmatic choice to navigate the financial and structural reforms demanded by the government. However, the path to the presidency is not without obstacles, as rival candidates have also emerged representing the interests of the Amateur League and the old guard. The inclusion of Maldini in the campaign manifesto acts as a powerful political tool, appealing to a fanbase...