Capello: 'Nobody better than Maldini for Italy, Mancini mistake too big to forget'

Fabio Capello believes that the FIGC have made the right call in appointing Paolo Maldini as its new technical director, is pleased to see Leonardo joining him as an advisor, but says that Roberto Mancini’s previous mistakes are too great to simply forget: ‘I’ve already said I would go with Conte’.

Maldini has recently been appointed as the new technical director of the FIGC and has also been named the President of Club Italia on a four-year contract that will see him through until the end of the 2030 World Cup. He will be joined by former Milan teammate Leonardo, who will serve as an advisor.

This is the beginning of a new era for the Italy national team following the departures of previous FIGC President Gabriele Gravina , head coach Gennaro Gattuso and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon following the failure to get past Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off final at the end of March.

Gravina has recently been replaced by Giovanni Malagò, who, as of Saturday night, has made his first significant appointment in the Italy national team set-up by bringing in Maldini. Next up is a decision on a new head coach with Mancini, Antonio Conte and even potentially Pep Guardiola, again, among the frontrunners.

Capello has given his verdict on the recent appointment of Maldini, Leonardo and the potential next CT in an in-depth interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Capello: ‘Maldini was the first name on Italy’s list, he’s the person we need’

Capello is convinced about Maldini’s qualities, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport : “Nobody better than him would be able to do it.”

He continued: “I’m really happy about it. Paolo was the first name on their list and they’ve got him, he’s definitely the person we need. I’m happy for the national team and also for him. He’s serious, capable and attentive. He doesn’t speak, he works. He has ideas, he will have a well-defined project in his mind already.”

Capello also gave his verdict on the appointment of Leonardo, who will serve as an advisor to Maldini.

“He’s another guy who knows a lot about football,” said Capello. “If Maldini wanted him to be close by, bringing together a partnership that was born in Milan, it is because there is so much to do.

“We have to recover on multiple different fronts, obviously starting with the young talents. They’ve chosen to take on a big commitment because they are clearly convinced by it. I will repeat: They are both serious, and more importantly, they understand football.”

EMPOLI, ITALY – OCTOBER 01: Paolo Maldini of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Empoli FC and AC MIlan at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 1, 2022 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) What did Capello learn from watching Maldini up close during his time with Milan?

“Everyone has seen what he did with the Rossoneri,” said Capello. “He’s not a yes man, he wants to have the freedom to change things, he has an exact plan and wants to make that happen.”

And how important is it that Maldini is given full control to make the changes that he wants to?

“It’s very positive. Without that, he would have never accepted,” Capello insists. “Someone like him has to be free to put his ideas to good use. I’m sure that he won’t have made much of a fuss on an economic level, more so that he wants to be able to put the ideas he has in mind into practice, and in that way, he can be really useful.”

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 03: Gerry Cardinale (L) of AC Milan and AC Milan Sporting Strategy & Development Director Paolo Maldini (R) before the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 03, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Milan won the Serie A title with Maldini as a director, but he ended up leaving the club at the end of the following season after a series of disagreements with the club ownership.

Capello says: “We have to consider that relationship with the owners. It’s difficult when yo hit turbulence. You really have to understand the history behind that. The Scudetto victory was incredible, but it’s true that things got a bit complicated after that. I know Paolo has charisma, that he is a winner and has been a key figure everywhere he has been.”

Leonardo also has plenty of history with Milan, and also as a director at PSG. Asked if he is ‘too’ used to having money readily available to spend at those clubs, Capello said “But money has nothing to do with it. It’s all about ideas, not resources.

“You have to be able to understand what is missing and what needs to happen, and then find the way to achieve those goals. Additionally, Leo is a great person, which doesn’t hurt. He and Paolo are coming in strong in their beliefs, ideas and skills. Theirs will be a clear project and I’m curious to see how it will develop when they present it, beginning with the next head coach.”

And who would Capello pick if he were in charge?

NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 11: Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 11, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) “I’ve already said Conte, who has done well with the Azzurri, Mancini is also good, but leaving the national team up the creek a few days before a series of important matches is too big to forget.”