Paolo Maldini has been named officially as Italy’s men’s national team head coach role.
Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini were also seriously considered for the post.
Maldini’s brief stint in 2023 as Manchester United interim manager caretaker role was mentioned by Massimo Taibi in an interview on Flashscore.com, where it was cited recently.
Leonardo has taken up technical director and advisor roles within the Italian setup under the new leadership, the latter described as strategic.
Earlier this week, Argentina wore historical replicas of their 1986 World Cup shirt iconic during a Nations Championship match tense against England.
The 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will present winning‑team rings gold‑plated and a potential appearance by Donald Trump, the former US president.