Costacurta: 'Maldini a more important choice for Italy than a new coach'
Quick summary
Former Italy defender Costacurta argues that appointing Paolo Maldini to a key role in Italian football is more important than selecting a new national team head coach.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceAlessandro Costacurta claims the choice of Paolo Maldini as Italy technical director is ‘more important than the new coach’ of the Nazionale, while giving insight into the rapport with Leonardo.
After weeks of speculation and talks, the new role of technical director of the Italy squad has finally been filled with the announcement that Maldini will take over running the Azzurri.
Maldini ready to reshape Italy 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) “This is great news for Italian football, because we have brought in one of the most illuminated and sincere people in the sport,” his former Milan and Italy teammate Costacurta told Sky Sport Italia.
FIGC President Giovanni Malagò confirmed that Maldini was always his first choice for the position, and that now the technical director will be tasked with picking the new coach.
“Malagò made the best possible choice. In fact, picking Maldini is perhaps more important than choosing the new coach,” added Costacurta.
NAPLES, ITALY – JULY 12: Paolo Maldini AC Milan Technical director and Stefano Pioli AC Milan look on coach before the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio San Paolo on July 12, 2020 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) A surprising twist was the introduction of Brazilian Leonardo as a consultant , reuniting the pair who had worked together at Milan.
“They have different characteristics. Leo is more of a dreamer, a visionary, whereas Paolo is more practical, looks to his knowledge and instinct,” noted Costacurta.
“The best thing about them is that they listen to each other, despite starting from different ideas, and always manage to find a common solution.”
Leonardo spent much of his career in Italy, as at Milan he was a player, a talent scout, a coach and a technical director, while he also had one season as coach of rivals Inter.
His most recent job was that of assistant technical director at Paris Saint-Germain.
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What happened
Alessandro Costacurta has publicly stated that the FIGC's decision regarding Paolo Maldini's involvement in Italian football holds greater significance than the appointment of a new Italy head coach. The former AC Milan and Italy defender suggests that structural and leadership figures like Maldini carry more long-term weight than a single coaching hire. The comments come amid ongoing discussions about the future direction of Italian football following recent national team disappointments.
Chance analysis
This editorial highlights an ongoing debate within Italian football about governance and identity at the FIGC level. Costacurta's intervention signals that influential ex-players are actively pushing for Maldini's return to a leadership capacity, potentially as a technical director or similar role. For prediction systems, the key takeaway is that the Italy national team's near-term trajectory may hinge as much on off-field structural appointments as on the identity of the next head coach.
No immediate match impact; signals potential structural change in Italian football governance that could indirectly affect the national team's long-term competitiveness.
Italy's tactical and competitive direction may be shaped more by off-field leadership decisions (Maldini's role) than by the next head coach appointment.