Paolo Maldini, the man who spent 25 years making strikers question their career choices at AC Milan, is about to start a new chapter. The legendary Italian defender is expected to become the technical director of the Italy national team, a role that has never existed in Italian football before.

The appointment is described as virtually done under newly elected FIGC president Giovanni Malagò, who has made it clear that filling this position is his first order of business. Before Italy even picks a new head coach, Maldini needs to be in place.

What the role actually involves

The position is designed to serve as a daily bridge between the Italian football federation, Serie A clubs, players, and the coaching staff. Maldini would help manage relationships with clubs, advise on tactical direction, and play a central role in selecting the next head coach.

For a country that has missed two of the last three World Cups (2018 and 2022), the need for better coordination between the club game and the national team isn’t exactly a luxury.

Why Maldini makes sense

Maldini earned 126 caps for Italy between 1988 and 2002, captaining both the national team and AC Milan during an era when Serie A was the undisputed center of the football universe.

Maldini has relevant front-office experience. He served as AC Milan’s technical director from 2019 until his departure in June 2023, a tenure that produced genuinely impressive results. Under his guidance, Milan won their first Serie A title in over a decade during the 2021-22 season. His exit came amid reported tensions with club owner Gerry Cardinale.

The bigger picture under Malagò

Maldini’s expected appointment is part of a broader restructuring effort that Giovanni Malagò is undertaking after becoming the new FIGC president. The decision to create an entirely new position, then fill it before hiring a head coach, signals a fundamental rethinking of how Italian football’s national program should operate.

Malagò’s approach suggests he views the technical director role as the foundation on which everything else gets built. The head coach becomes someone who works within a system rather than someone who defines the entire system by themselves.