Italy's Rebuilding Plans Suffer Fresh Blow as Maldini and Leonardo Step Down

Italy's efforts to rebuild its national football structure have reportedly suffered another setback following the resignations of football legends Paolo Maldini and Leonardo from their roles with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

The pair had only recently been appointed to play leading roles in the federation's long-term restructuring plans.

Maldini was expected to oversee the technical direction of Italy's national teams, while Leonardo was brought in as a senior adviser to support the reform process.

Their reported departures come at a difficult time for Italian football after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The absence marked the third consecutive World Cup the four-time champions have missed, raising serious concerns about the future of the national team.

The federation has also faced uncertainty in its search for a new head coach following Gennaro Gattuso's exit. Several high-profile names were linked with the position, including Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, but neither move materialized.

Former midfielder Andrea Pirlo also emerged as a possible candidate before withdrawing from consideration amid controversy surrounding his commercial partnership with a Russian betting company.

Maldini's exit is particularly surprising, having spent only a few weeks in his new position before deciding to step away. His experience and leadership were expected to play a key role in shaping Italy's path toward the 2030 World Cup.

With the reported resignations of both Maldini and Leonardo, the FIGC now faces the difficult task of restoring stability and finding new leaders capable of guiding Italian football back to the world's biggest stage.