Italy could turn to Boniek as alternative to Maldini for technical director role
Quick summary
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is considering former FIGC president and Poland legend Zbigniew Boniek as an alternative to Paolo Maldini for the vacant technical director position.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceSaturday’s reports claim that former Juventus and Roma forward and former UEFA vice-President Zbigniew Boniek is among the alternative options to Paolo Maldini for the vacant technical director role with the Italy national team.
Boniek option emerges for Italy Giovanni Malagò has recently been appointed as the new President of the FIGC and he will be tasked with redesigning the Italy national team set-up following the departures of head coach Gennaro Gattuso and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon earlier this year.
Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini remain the frontrunners for the vacant Italy national team head coach role, but it is understood that the FIGC will look to appoint a new technical director before making a final decision on the next CT.
Several legendary former Italy internationals have been linked with the technical director role, most prominently Maldini , who has been out of work since leaving his beloved Milan in controversial circumstances in the summer of 2023.
EMPOLI – 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. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) There have also been mentions of Buffon, Alessandro Del Piero, Gianfranco Zola, Claudio Ranieri, Roberto Baggio, Demetrio Albertini, Beppe Bergomi.
However, according to reports from the Corriere dello Sport, the new name that has emerged on Italy’s list of potential alternatives to Maldini is Boniek, who was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame back in 2019.
FLORENCE – MAY 23: Zbigniew Kazimierz Boniek former player of Widzew Lodz , Juventus and AS Roma , currently UEFA Vice-President during the FIGC Hall of Fame Event on May 23, 2022 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) Boniek spent the final six years of his playing career in Serie A with Juventus and Roma, and later returned to Italy as coach of Lecce, Bari, Sambenedettese and Avellino.
Boniek served as the chair of the Polish FA between 2012 and 2021, when he was appointed as UEFA vice-President under Aleksander Ceferin, serving alongside former FIGC President Gabriele Gravina in the same role.
Boniek has been out of work since stepping down from his position with UEFA in April of 2025.
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What happened
Italy is searching for a new technical director to oversee the national team setup following recent changes at the FIGC. Paolo Maldini was the leading candidate but negotiations reportedly stalled. As a result, the federation is exploring alternatives, with Zbigniew Boniek — former Juventus midfielder, Poland international, and ex-FIGC president — emerging as a potential option. The appointment would be an administrative rather than coaching role, influencing squad selection strategy, youth development pathways, and technical direction of the Azzurri ahead of upcoming competitions.
Chance analysis
The technical director role at the FIGC carries significant influence over Italy's senior and youth national team structures, including talent identification, coaching appointments, and footballing philosophy. Maldini's likely appointment would have signaled continuity with the modern Italian football identity, while Boniek — a foreign former federation president with deep Italian football connections — would represent a more unconventional choice. For prediction systems, the direct match-day impact is limited, but the choice affects Italy's long-term squad-building and tactical direction.
Potential change in Italy's national team technical leadership could influence long-term squad strategy and youth development, with minimal immediate match-day impact.
A administrative appointment, not directly affecting upcoming match outcomes, but may signal Italy's strategic direction in talent development and squad planning.