FOOTBALL – PAOLO Maldini and Leonardo have decided to resign from their roles with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Sky Sport Italia reported yesterday.
The move comes days after both figures agreed to take on the roles as part of a major overhaul of the national team management.
Maldini was appointedtechnical director of the FIGC on July 11 to help rebuild the national side after they failed to qualify for a third successive World Cup.
One of his first tasks was to help identify a successor to Gennaro Gattuso, whose departure had left the coaching position vacant. However, Maldini stepped down just 16 days later alongside Leonardo, the former Brazil international who had been brought in as his adviser.
The decision to step down comes shortly after former Italy international Andrea Pirlo said he was no longer a candidate to coach the Italian national side.
His prospective appointment faced fierce opposition over his commercial ties to a Russian betting company. The double departure creates an immediate crisis for newly appointed FIGC President Giovanni Malago.
It leaves the federation without a clear national team strategy at its lowest ebb in nearly 40 years.