Malagò: ‘Italy have six-year plan building up to EURO 2032’ | OneFootball

FIGC President Giovanni Malagò said he has set out a ‘six-year plan’ for Italian football with Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, but won’t be drawn on the new Italy coach yet.

The Federation chief met with the Lega Serie A today, the coalition of top flight clubs, accompanied by Italy technical director Maldini and his special advisor Leonardo.

FIGC President Giovanni Malago (left) with coach Roberto Mancini (right): @coppa_canottieri via Instagram.

Naturally, the biggest subject of the day was the search for a new Nazionale coach after almost a week of intensive negotiations with Pep Guardiola.

Following the meeting with the clubs, Malagò, Maldini and Leonardo held a press conference this afternoon.

The press was warned before it started not to ask the name of the new Italy coach, but they could discuss characteristics and strategies.

Malagò rebooting Italy

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – MARCH 05: Giovanni Malago, President of the Organising Committee for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, looks on during the Paralympic Games Opening Press Conference ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at on March 05, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

“I’m very happy to be here in the Lega Serie A. You know full well that a group of these clubs sparked my candidacy for the FIGC role, to a certain point practically stalking me to get me to run,” joked Malagò.

“So I pushed myself past my concerns, I struggle to resist the call of Italian sport, and have many challenges, including the deadline of July 31 for the dossier of EURO 2032 stadiums.”

His first task was creating the role of technical director of the Italy side and handing it to Maldini, with Leonardo as special advisor.

“My predecessor at the FIGC took responsibility for choosing the new Italy coach, but I preferred to turn the matter on its head and choose someone who can look over not just the Nazionale, but the whole academy system.

“It is crucial to totally share everything, so they won’t do anything I don’t agree with, and vice versa. We have a six-year plan, building up to the European Championship that we are co-hosting, where we must try to recover the gap that is clear for all to see.”

It is reported that Guardiola is giving serious thought to the idea of becoming the new Italy coach after a decade at Manchester City.

Sky Sport Italia insist the doubts are not over the salary, even if it could be up to €20m per year, but rather the depth and strength of the project to completely revamp Italian football after missing three consecutive editions of the World Cup.