Italy national team turmoil: Pirlo tied to Russia, Mancini returns and Maldini quits

It is almost impossible to explain what happened Italy these days. After failing to qualify for the third consecutive World Cup earlier this year, Italian soccer has once again experienced turmoil. The exclusion from the 2026 World Cup led to the sacking of former manager Gennaro Gattuso, FA President Gabriele Gravina and the head of the Italian national team. Gianluigi Buffon. The Italian coalition, at that time, had time to reorganize itself and a new election was called for a new president. On June 22, former president of the Italian National Olympic Committee and president of Milano Cortina 2026 Giovanni Malago was appointed president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), with the clear aim of bringing Italian football back to the top of the international game in the coming years. However, his first month as president was not easy as he had to face many challenges.

Here’s what you need to know about Italy’s latest turmoil:

At first, critical measures lasted less than three weeks

His first big decision was to appoint AC Milan Legend and former club director Paolo Maldini, and former PSG sporting director Leonardo, to oversee the rebuilding of the Italian national team. Their cycle lasted 17 days, where they met with Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti to become the new coach of the Italian national team but then suggested Andrea Pirlo as a suitable candidate. The situation then changed dramatically as political pressure influenced decision-making, leading to the resignation of both Maldini and Leonardo. Malago responded by appointing Roberto Mancini as Italy’s new coach, marking his return to the national team after a three-year absence, when he left the Azzurri just weeks before taking over. Saudi Arabia.

From Pep Guardiola to Andrea Pirlo

When Maldini and Leonardo were appointed by Malago, they decided to start looking at the national team as a team, which means they were considered as sports directors who should start hiring a new coach. Maldini and Leonardo were thinking a lot and immediately decided to meet Pep Guardiola to become the next manager of Italy but the former coach of Manchester City decided to change the offer as he wanted to focus on his private life after leaving Manchester City earlier this summer. As Maldini himself announced, the two also met with Carlo Ancelotti to check the possibility of hiring him for the next four-year round leading up to the 2030 World Cup, but Ancelotti also rejected their request as he is currently in charge of the Brazilian national team.

That’s when Maldini and Leonardo had another amazing name in their mind: Pirlo, the current coach of They are together FC Dubai and 2006 World Cup winner with the Azzurri, was at the forefront of the job, despite his managerial curriculum. Maldini and Pirlo are close friends, and the former AC Milan sporting director wanted to appoint him as the club’s head coach in the summer of 2023 before he was fired by Rossoneri ownership. However, the hope that Pirlo in charge of the Italian national team failed to win the majority of fans, while political opposition to the appointment appeared.

Russian connection

The controversy stems from Pirlo’s role as global ambassador for Russian sports betting company Fonbet. Since in Russia The full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the relationship between Italy and Russia has been very fragile, making any meeting with Russian companies politically sensitive. Pirlo’s trip to Russia and his commercial relationship with Fonbet soon became a political debate, which eventually led FIGC president Malago to cancel the deal. Maldini and Leonardo, who asked for freedom of choice when they were appointed, decided to withdraw after what happened.

Andrea Pirlo wrote in a statement, “Out of respect for the institutions, the federation and everyone involved, I have chosen to remain silent until now. However, after learning last night that I am no longer a candidate for the coach of the Italian national team, I feel that it is necessary to clarify a few points. In the past few days, I have watched with great sadness as the debate about taking my national team name and my first role for Italy. as a player and as a coach, I have been doing tasks my in full respect of the laws of the countries in which I have worked and the contracts I have signed Professional cooperation which is the subject of recent controversy has been part of my working experience in the United Arab Emirates and it is only for business and sports.

The ‘new era’ of Mancini and Ranieri

On Tuesday, Malago announced his decision to appoint Roberto Mancini as Italy’s head coach Claudio Ranieri as the technical director of the new cycle.

“Time is short, your curiosity as the media also push us to hurry, and I evaluated the person who should be the new Italian coach Roberto Mancini, for a whole list of reasons. I am committed to that, but I want to make it clear that this does not change the culture and the new role of the technical director,” said Malago.

Mancini is back for a second time in charge of Italy after leading the Azzurri from 2018 to 2023 and guiding them to the historic title of UEFA Euro 2020. For Ranieri, on the other hand, it marks his first selection for the Italian national team after refusing to join the Azzurri in the summer of 2025 when he was a consultant for the Friedkin family of AS. The Romans.

Mancini’s return seemed unpopular with many fans. The 61-year-old resigned as Italy head coach in the summer of 2023 amid widespread criticism before accepting the Saudi Arabia job a few days later. His first spell in charge also ended on a sour note after Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, suffering a shock defeat against North Macedonia just months after winning Euros in the summer of 2021. Malago, Mancini’s best friend, eventually chose to bring him back in the hope of restoring the idea of ​​Italian victory.

Meanwhile, Ranieri, along with a third man whose appointment is expected to be announced in the coming days, will be tasked with transforming Italian football from the ground up. When the German federation announced Jurgen Klopp as a new coach and The French federation announced Zinedine ZidaneItaly is struggling to find a way back to the top of soccer’s elite. The turmoil surrounding the coalition’s first major decisions suggests that a new era has begun just like the old one, one full of controversy and uncertainty.