Paolo Maldini, Italy's technical director, stood before the cameras in Milan on July 23, 2026, and asked everyone to take a breath. The national team needs a new head coach, and the man tasked with finding one is not panicking. "C'è fretta ma dentro di noi nemmeno tanta," Maldini said — there is urgency, but inside us, not even that much (Adnkronos; Gazzetta dello Sport).

The press conference followed the Lega Serie A assembly, the regular gathering of Italy's top-flight clubs, and it was the first official public appearance for Maldini alongside FIGC president Giovanni Malagò and advisor Leonardo — the Brazilian former midfielder who is now part of the federation's brain trust (Sky Sport; Corriere della Sera).

Maldini's role as direttore tecnico, or technical director, means he oversees the sporting direction of Italy's national teams — and right now, the senior side is without a manager. The name hanging over the whole conversation is Carlo Ancelotti, the most decorated club coach in European football history and a man Maldini knows well. The two shared a dressing room at AC Milan, where Ancelotti was manager and Maldini was captain for years of domestic and European success (FIGC).

Maldini has spoken before about Ancelotti's gift for lightening the mood at the worst possible moment. In a FIGC article published in June 2025, Maldini recalled how Ancelotti's jokes defused tension before a final — a small detail that paints the relationship between the two men as more than just professional (FIGC). Both men also share a place in the FIGC Italian Football Hall of Fame, Ancelotti inducted in 2014 and Maldini's father Cesare — himself a legendary defender and national team manager — in 2016 (FIGC).

The context behind Maldini's calm is a programme that extends well beyond the senior team. Italy's Under-21 side, the Azzurrini, were knocked out on penalties by Denmark on July 8, 2026, ending their World Cup qualification hopes — a result that added pressure on the federation to get its structure right (FIGC).

For fans, the appeal of Maldini in this role is instinctive. He is among the greatest defenders the game has produced, a man who played 126 times for Italy and captained both his country and AC Milan. When he says the federation will not be rushed, the words carry the weight of someone who has stood in the tunnel before matches that defined seasons. Whether the next manager turns out to be Ancelotti or someone else, Maldini's message from Milan was clear: Italy will hire on their own terms, not on anyone else's timeline.