Italy saga: Everything Malagò said on Mancini, Ranieri, Pirlo and Maldini

Italy saga: Everything Malagò said on Mancini, Ranieri, Pirlo and Maldini Everything FIGC President Giovanni Malagò said covering the Andrea Pirlo controversy, Paolo Maldini resignation, arrival of new Italy coach Roberto Mancini and technical director Claudio Ranieri. The Italian football world has been turned on its head in the space of 17 wild days, because that is when Paolo Maldini was named as the technical director of Club Italia, with Leonardo as special advisor. BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 16: AC Milan Sporting Strategy & Development Director Paolo Maldini and AC Milan Club Sporting Director Leonardo De Araujo before the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and AC Milan at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on February 16, 2019 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) They were supposed to choose the new coach, but after Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola turned it down, third choice Andrea Pirlo was blocked over his global brand ambassador contract with a banned Russian gambling company, Fonbet. Maldini and Leonardo resigned, just four days after presenting their plans to the Lega Serie A and in a press conference, so Malagò took it upon himself to pick the new coach instead. He spoke to reporters after this morning’s Federation summit in Rome. Malagò outlines Italy chaos FIGC President Giovanni Malago (left) with coach Roberto Mancini (right): @coppa_canottieri via Instagram. “I apologise if yesterday I saw some of you in hot temperatures outside and I couldn’t give you many answers. There were no alternatives,” said Malagò in a press conference. “By the end of the week, we should receive the final documentation for the EURO 2032 hosting dossier, with the deadline on July 31, as that is a priority and we are working closely with UEFA to choose the five stadiums to represent Italy. “With regards to the matter of the Italy coach, what was on the media yesterday was largely correct, in that there was a candidate who had been chosen, and to a degree agreed, as suggested by technical director Paolo Maldini and consultant Leonardo. Italy technical director Paolo Maldini, special advisor Leonardo, FIGC President Giovanni Malagò and Lega Serie A President Ezio Simonelli (figc.it) “Then the evolution of the nomination of Andrea Pirlo, who we had made an agreement with, led to me no longer approving this candidacy. It was inopportune, I didn’t get time to read everything, but from what I saw, I am sorry that some blew this situation up. “There is no other way of interpreting the situation, no other truth about it, no other reason for the choice. I was not at all aware, and it seems neither was the technical director, of this collaboration since July 2025 and that represented something that made us reflect. “This sparked another position, and I’m sorry to disappoint you, but there was no anger or controversy here, yes to disappointment. Practically before we had even started, we were dealing with a unique situation. I was clear in my position, so were they, so like in many families, it was a calm and consensual decision to go our separate ways. “That is the only truth of the situation. The document I wrote with Paolo Maldini and Leonardo speaks directly to the agreement of this final decision. OLDENZAAL, NETHERLANDS – JUNE 17: Head coach of Italy Roberto Mancini attends before an Italy Training Session the UEFA Nations League 2022/23 at K.V.V Quick ’20 Stadium on June 17, 2023 in Oldenzaal, Netherlands. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) “Time is short, your curiosity as the media also pushed us to hurry, and I evaluated the person who should become the new coach of Italy is Roberto Mancini, for a whole list of reasons. I take responsibility for those, but I want to clarify that this does not change the new culture and role of a technical director at Club Italia. “That is not to be confused with other roles. It is what Paolo Maldini had agreed to, and you must realise that we made a fundamental modification of the statute for Club Italia. Until now, the FIGC President had been the only figure who could lead the Club Italia, so this is a cultural shift. “With what happened yesterday, I needed someone who could share my vision of who would be the Italy coach, because there has to be a shared vision with the President and technical director of Club Italia. This shared vision on Mancini was not present with Paolo Maldini. FIGC President Giovanni Malago (left) with coach Roberto Mancini (right): @coppa_canottieri via Instagram. “The person I share that vision with is Claudio Ranieri, who a few minutes ago guaranteed he would take the role. He is the person who will take this very important and delicate role. We already spoke on the phone, and tomorrow there will be a press conference with both Roberto Mancini and Claudio Ranieri at 18.00.” Malagò then took questions from the assembled media in Rome at the FIGC headquarters. “This is the story, it is how you gain experience, it was important to do everything with clarity and within our conscience. I did share the vision of choosing Pirlo, and I have no doubt he would’ve terminated his contract with the betting company that he was a testimonial for, but for a series of reasons, I didn’t feel it was right. “So consequently, today we have a new coach and a new technical director for Italy. “The last news is that by the end of the week I aim to announce a third figure who can come on board. I urge you not to start naming names, because I don’t think you’ll get it, and the role will be one that Gigi Riva and Gigi Buffon had in the past, co-ordinating and let’s say supervising the Italy youth teams. “Viscidi is staying with us, he has that role now, but it will complete the process of choices that everyone unanimously agreed with. “Finally, don’t ask me for numbers because I won’t give them, but it is very positive that both Roberto Mancini and Claudio Ranieri have behaved with great sensibility on the budget issues that need to be taken into consideration.” Does he have any regrets? “No, because if I were to go back, I can only thank Maldini and Leonardo. I spent more time in conversation with them over the last 15 days than anyone else. I am a fatalist, I have a positive view of what destiny gives us. “You can all decide on if my position was right or wrong, but something negative can avoid you running into other problems in future. Maldini and Leo were gentlemen, as always, but also clear and honest on their views. So was I.” There were reports today that Malagò had told the FIGC assembly of Mancini’s appointment. “I haven’t even told the FIGC meeting about Ranieri, because my phone was off during the meeting and the final details are still being done. When I told them about Mancini, we timed that within 2 minutes and 30 seconds, the ANSA news agency appeared that I announced it. “So I have identified the leaker and I joked that’s why I can’t tell you things! There was honestly total agreement over the choice.” PISA, ITALY – MAY 17: Antonio Conte manager of SSC Napoli looks on during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi on May 17, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) Why did they not go for Antonio Conte? “Conte’s story speaks for himself, I evaluated many things, but some here continue to look at things from yesterday’s reality and not today’s reality. Today there is a coach and a President of Club Italia. “The tandem is Roberto Mancini and Claudio Ranieri. That is the response.” Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Italy interacts with Alberigo Evani, Assistant Coach of Italy during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Round of 16 match between Italy and Austria at Wembley Stadium at Wembley Stadium on June 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Tallis – Pool/Getty Images) Were Giorgio Chiellini or Gianfranco Zola considered for roles in Club Italia? “To be honest, Conte is someone who potentially could’ve been the coach, naturally, he has everything required. Zola is one of those people who might be chosen for the third role. “Chiellini? One of the issues I was very clear with talking to Paolo and Leo is that out of respect for the clubs that supported me, I wouldn’t try to poach someone from their staff. So there might’ve been other potential coaches and technical directors, strong names, who I did not take into consideration. “I know you’ll write that down at the bottom, but it’s a form of respect.” LEWISBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – JUNE 14: Former Juventus and Italian national team defender Giorgio Chiellini arrives at the airport prior to the official FIFA Club World Cup 2025 on June 14, 2025 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) Will Lele Oriali be the Team Manager? “It’s not a Team Manager, it’s someone overseeing the Nazionale levels and that includes that role.” A poll said over 80% of people think Mancini is not the right man for Italy after the way he left in 2023. “Of course I took that into account. I won’t say what he will talk about, but I assume he’ll discuss this in tomorrow’s press conference. I have taken all of this into consideration.” Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi said someone made a bad impression, but who? “I spoke to the Minister today, whatever I say, people will twist it. So I want to end this here, you’ve already got enough headlines out of that.” CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – MARCH 05: Giovanni Malago, President of the Organising Committee for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, speaks during the Paralympic Games Opening Press Conference ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at on March 05, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images) Does this scrap the plans for youth academy reform? “That remains the same plan, 100 per cent, nothing has changed there. A train is on two tracks, usually if you go at two different speeds, you will derail. But here, we need to go at two different speeds. “You guys wrote this morning, if we are relegated in the Nations League, what will happen? The new coach will have TWO training sessions to prepare for the first game. And since Italy lost the play-off to Bosnia, I don’t think we gave passports to Lamine Yamal, Mbappe and Kane… So are we being serious here? “The first speed must be trying to do the best with what we have, also safeguarding the European ranking in a group against teams that were all at the World Cup, Turkiye, Belgium and France. If you want to be objective and serious, finishing fourth in that group is logical over the World Cup, and you risk ending up in a play-off with a group that has Spain, England and Germany. “I read someone say that if we had this coach, then we’d be fine in the Nations League, another and we’d be doomed. That is not serious. First Italy training under Gennaro Gattuso on September 1, 2025. “Secondly, we need to go at a speed for an area that needs to be completely torn up, started from scratch, and the seeds sowed. That is starting from the youth academies, those who today are 13, 14, 15 years old, and setting a six-year plan for someone who might then be called up to the Nazionale in 2032.” Was Mancini the first choice in May and if so why not go for him then? “I believed very strongly and still believe in the concept of the Club Italia and a technical director. So any name I’d choose, I wanted Paolo Maldini and Leonardo to make the name. It was frankly not an issue then.” So why did Maldini and Leonardo walk away after presenting a name? “There were no other names. We had outlined the profile of a coach, so a description of characteristics. Not names.”