Paolo Maldini has stepped down as technical director of the Italian Football Federation, according to Sky in Italy, in a sudden exit that comes only 16 days after taking up the post. The reported reason is the federation's decision not to appoint Andrea Pirlo as the next Italy head coach.
The development has quickly become a major talking point in Italian football because Maldini is one of the country's most respected former players and his brief spell in the role was expected to bring authority and experience to the national setup. Instead, his tenure appears to have ended almost immediately amid disagreement over the coaching direction.
Reports indicate the key issue was the choice of Italy's head coach, with Pirlo not getting the job. That decision is said to have triggered Maldini's departure from the FIGC, turning what had looked like a significant appointment into a short-lived chapter.
The resignation adds fresh uncertainty around Italy's technical structure and the wider debate over who should lead the national team. With Maldini now gone and the Andrea Pirlo decision at the center of the story, attention is likely to remain on the FIGC's next steps.
