Krankzinnig: Maldini quits Italy role after 16 days amid Pirlo turmoil

In a bizarre turn of events, technical director Paolo Maldini and his adviser Leonardo have quit the Italy national team after just sixteen days, a decision driven by the chaos surrounding the attempted appointment of Andrea Pirlo as head coach.

Maldini was named technical director on Saturday 11 July, tasked with finding a successor for Gennaro Gattuso. Gattuso had stepped down after the squad failed to qualify for the World Cup.

In his search for a new head coach, Maldini approached Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, both of whom declined. He then turned his attention to former Juventus and AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo.

Pirlo’s links to a Russian company sparked criticism, and his prospective appointment placed Maldini and Leonardo under fire. President Giovanni Malagò subsequently halted Pirlo’s coaching bid, a move that displeased the duo.

Maldini and Leonardo wanted to propose Thiago Motta as head coach, but Malagò favoured Antonio Conte or Roberto Mancini. The clash created what Italian media described as an ‘unworkable situation’. Insiders called the whole episode krankzinnig.

According to the reports, Mancini and Leonardo will announce their departure tonight, exactly sixteen days after Maldini’s appointment. The announcement underscores the rapid unraveling of the technical team’s plans. Multiple leading Italian media reported the exit on Monday evening, confirming the swift turnover.