Italy Misses 3rd Consecutive World Cup, Appoints Paolo Maldini as New Head Coach

In Italy, after losing the right to participate in the FIFA World Cup for the third consecutive time, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has opened the doors to a new era. The federation appointed Paolo Maldini, considered one of the greatest legends in the country's football history, as the new head coach of the national team. This striking decision was made to reverse the Azzurri's decline and completely rebuild the foundational elements of the national team. Maldini's appointment was finally made official following weeks of intense speculation and behind-the-scenes negotiations. FIGC President Giovanni Malagò emphasized that this appointment is not just a routine change, but the first step in a comprehensive reform initiated for Italian football.

According to announcements, alongside the legendary footballer, another well-known figure from the international football world will also take part. Former Brazilian footballer and former Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo will accompany Maldini as an advisor. Malagò's plan is for the two prestigious and expert figures to work autonomously to coordinate both the senior national team and the youth academy units. This management duo has been tasked with healing the wounds of Italian football following the traumatic processes experienced. The president stated that he had always identified Maldini as his primary target and that he is the perfect fit to oversee FIGC's technical department.

For Paolo Maldini, this new role stands out as a highly extraordinary and groundbreaking page in his football career. Because, despite having immense footballing experience, he has never managed at any club, youth level, or national team throughout his history. After ending his active playing career, he gained managerial experience by being among the founders of Miami FC in the USA. Later, between 2018 and 2023, he successfully served as the sporting director of his legendary club AC Milan, playing a key role in the team's run to the championship. Now, without stepping onto the pitch, he is assuming a top-level responsibility to prevent Italian football from falling from its peak.

Maldini is taking over a national team that has been struggling in the grip of a deep crisis and a massive World Cup drought throughout its recent history. After winning the championship by defeating France in the final in Germany in 2006, the Italians failed to advance past the qualifiers in three consecutive World Cups. They could not avoid entering the record books by being eliminated by Sweden in 2018, surprisingly by North Macedonia in 2022, and by Bosnia on penalties for 2026. This bad streak resulted in the national team staying away from the most prestigious tournament in football for more than 16 years. During this period, many head coaches such as Gianpiero Ventura, Roberto Mancini, Luciano Spalletti, and Gennaro Gattuso sequentially took charge and were dismissed following their lack of success.

As a footballer, World Cups always held bittersweet memories for Maldini, and lifting the big trophy seemed almost absent from his fate. The legendary defender, who competed in four separate World Cups throughout his career, was eliminated in the semi-finals in 1990, and left the pitch defeated in the final after losing to Brazil on penalties in 1994. Ironically, Maldini was not in the squad for that legendary tournament where Italy won the World Cup in 2006 because he had retired from the national team. The star, who won 26 trophies and 5 Champions League titles with AC Milan, ironically described himself as 'the biggest loser in history', referencing the number of finals he had lost.