Bierhoff: ‘Changes won’t happen for Italy in 2 or 3 years, I saw Maldini’s determination’

Bierhoff: ‘Changes won’t happen for Italy in 2 or 3 years, I saw Maldini’s determination’ Oliver Bierhoff has warned that it will take longer than just two or three years to truly correct the issues that have been holding Italy back on the international stage, and has explained why he thinks his friend Paolo Maldini stepped away from the role of technical director of the Italian FA after just over a fortnight earlier this summer. Bierhoff comments on Maldini and how to fix Italy Bierhoff was among the guest speakers at the Festival dello Sport event in Trento on Friday, discussing his role with the German FA, his advice for the Italy set-up, his conversations with Maldini and Friday’s Nations League match against France. Maldini was appointed as the technical director of the Italian FA (FIGC) following the election of Giovanni Malagò as the federation’s President in June. Bierhoff was the manager of the Germany national football team from 2004 until 2017, before transitioning to the role of technical director, the same as Mancini, as part of a restructuring of the German set-up. AL RUWAIS, QATAR – NOVEMBER 19: Oliver Bierhoff, team manager of Germany talks to the media during a Germany press conference at DFB Media Centre on November 19, 2022 in Al Ruwais, Qatar. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) However, unlike Bierhoff, who spent 18 years in the Germany set-up, Maldini’s reign with the FIGC lasted for just 17 days . Bierhoff says that Maldini often used to call him for advice in the early stages of his FIGC directorship. “We always used to speak on the phone. I told him about my experiences, I was cheering for him. I saw how much determination he was willing to put into the rebuilding of Italian football,” said Bierhoff (via TMW ). “He had clear ideas, but from the beginning I said that you also have to feel that the system is willing to follow you. He probably didn’t feel that.” Italy technical director Paolo Maldini, special advisor Leonardo, FIGC President Giovanni Malagò and Lega Serie A President Ezio Simonelli (figc.it) So, where does Bierhoff feel the major issues lie with the Italy national team? “I have to say it’s a little bit of everything. We have to realise that the changes won’t happen in two or three years, it takes time. “In the year 2000, we changed our methods of training, education, we started investing more in infrastructure, in stadiums, in academies. We thought it would take 10 years. We saw a different Germany side at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with technically gifted players. It requires patience, but also the conviction to say ‘we have to change’. “I can’t judge it from the outside, but you need to get to the very bottom to work your way back to the top. It seemed like Italy had reached that point and that it had started to say ‘enough’.” Bierhoff was also asked if he thinks Roberto Mancini and Jurgen Klopp are the right individuals to lead Italy and Germany through their respective ‘rough patches’. BURSA, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Italy, looks on before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images) He responded: “It’s difficult to do it in the short term, there’s a lack of quality right now, all due respect to the players, Italy won the World Cup in Germany with Totti, Del Piero, Pirlo, Cannavaro. “I also look at Germany and think: ‘Which one of these are at a high enough level in Europe to make an impact?’. They do okay, but real champions are guys like Lothar Matthaus, who went to Italy to become a top player.” And looking ahead to Friday night’s Nations League clash between France and Italy, Bierhoff said: “You never know with France. They can beat anyone 4-0 on their day because they’re that strong, like Spain today. It won’t be easy for Mancini at the beginning and it will definitely be difficult today.”