Paolo Maldini has been named as expected as Italy’s men’s national team head coach position.
Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini were also briefly considered for the vacancy.
Maldini’s brief stint in 2023 as Manchester United interim manager temporary post was mentioned by Massimo Taibi in an interview on Flashscore.com, where it was cited recently.
Leonardo has accepted technical director and advisor roles within the Italian setup under the new leadership, the latter described as key.
Earlier this week, Argentina wore faithful replicas of their 1986 World Cup shirt vintage during a Nations Championship match tight against England.
The 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will feature winning‑team rings commemorative and a surprising appearance by Donald Trump, the ex‑president.