Zola lined up for new Italy role as FIGC chief moves to heal rifts over Maldini and Leonardo

Gianfranco Zola is being lined up for a senior position overseeing Italy’s national teams, with Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malago confirming he expects the former Azzurri forward to join the set-up by the end of the week.

Malago revealed the plan during the press conference to unveil Roberto Mancini as Italy head coach, explaining that a third senior figure will soon be appointed alongside Mancini and new sporting director Claudio Ranieri.

“By the end of the week, I expect to announce a third person joining us,” Malago said. “This person will be responsible for managing the various national teams, a role previously held by Gigi Riva and Gigi Buffon. Zola is certainly a fitting name for this third position.”

The FIGC president stressed that the move comes at a delicate moment for Italian football and is partly shaped by financial realities and recent upheaval inside the federation.

“In life, we always make mistakes, but we have to adapt to this economic situation and to this specific historical moment,” he continued. “I absolutely do not want to cause any controversy. I think the time has come for everyone to support the Italian national team.”

Maldini and Leonardo departures

Malago acknowledged the controversy surrounding the exits of Paolo Maldini and Leonardo from their roles within the Italian federation, following the decision not to appoint Andrea Pirlo as national team coach.

“I wanted to honour my commitment to Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, and then we saw what happened,” he said. “It is not that Pirlo was not qualified to coach.”

Maldini and Leonardo left their posts at the FIGC after Pirlo was rejected for the top job, a decision that opened the door for Mancini’s return to the national side.

Mancini’s Saudi exit and return

Mancini had previously resigned as Italy coach in 2023 to take charge of Saudi Arabia, a move that sparked criticism at the time. Malago insisted that the coach had since made clear his regret.

“There was a strong desire on his part to apologise, and he has already done so publicly,” Malago said.

Under Mancini’s earlier tenure, Italy won Euro 2020 and finished third in the UEFA Nations League at the expense of the Netherlands, achievements that weighed heavily in the decision to bring him back.

Ranieri’s backing for Mancini

Malago also underlined the importance of harmony at the top of the national-team structure, saying that Ranieri’s appointment as sporting director was closely tied to his support for Mancini.

“Mancini and Ranieri will get along; they need to become more in tune with each other,” he said. “One of the reasons for Claudio Ranieri’s arrival is his complete agreement with the choice of Roberto Mancini.”

Ranieri, a vastly experienced coach at club and international level, has now been tasked with the sporting direction of the Italy national side as part of a broader restructuring.

Guardiola and Ancelotti speculation

Malago moved to distance himself from reports that he had personally put Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti forward as candidates for the Italy job.

“I did not mention them personally,” he insisted, when asked about speculation that the former Manchester City manager and the Real Madrid coach had been considered.

Italian media had reported that Guardiola, described as the former Manchester City head coach, was among the names discussed for the role before Mancini’s reappointment.

Fixtures on the horizon

Italy’s revamped technical structure will be tested quickly. The Azzurri open their UEFA Nations League campaign against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico on 25 September.

They will then begin their European qualifiers for Euro 2028 in March 2027, with Mancini aiming to build on his previous successes with the national side under a new leadership framework likely to include Zola in a key strategic role.