MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 20: Fabio Capello attends the Sports Mixed Zone ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards Madrid 2025 at the Palacio de Cibeles on April 20, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images for Laureus)
Fabio Capello believes FIGC made the right decision in appointing Paolo Maldini as its new technical director and is pleased to have Leonardo on board as an advisor, but says Roberto Mancini’s past failures are too great to simply forget: “I have already said that I will follow Conte.”
Maldini has recently Appointed as new technical director of FIGC He has also been appointed president of Club Italia on a four-year contract until the end of the 2030 World Cup. Former Milan teammate Leonardo will join as an advisor.
This marks the beginning of a new era for the Italian national team following the resignation of the former FIGC president. Gabriele Gravinacoach Gennaro Gattuso and national team president Gianluigi Buffon after the match Failed to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup playoff final At the end of March.
Gravina was recently replaced by Giovanni Malago, who, as of Saturday night, brought Maldini on board, making him the first major appointment in the Italian national team set-up. Next up is a decision on a new head coach, with Mancini, Antonio Conte and even Josep Guardiola again among the frontrunners.
Capello gave his verdict on the recent appointments of Maldini, Leonardo and the next CT candidates in an in-depth interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Capello: “Maldini was the first name on the list for the Italy squad. He is the person we need.”
Capello is confident in Maldini’s qualifications, saying: La Gazzetta dello Sport: “No one can do that better than him.”
He added: “I’m really happy. Paolo was the first name on their list and we got him and he’s definitely what we need. I’m happy for the national team and for him. He’s serious, competent and attentive. He doesn’t talk, he works. He has ideas and he’ll have a clear project in his head.”
Mr. Capello also gave his verdict on the appointment of Mr. Leonardo as Mr. Maldini’s advisor.
“He’s also a guy who knows a lot about football,” Capello said. “If Maldini wants to stay close to him and put together the partnership that was born in Milan, it is because there is a lot of work to do.
“We have to recover on several different fronts, but obviously we have to start with young talent. They have obviously chosen to take on a big commitment because they believe in it. Again, they are both serious and, more importantly, they understand football.”
What did Capello learn from watching Maldini up close during his time at Milan?
“Everyone has seen what he did with the Rossoneri,” Capello said. “He’s not a yes-man. He wants the freedom to change things, he has a precise plan and he wants to make it happen.”
And how important is it that Maldini is given full control to make the changes he wants?
“That’s a very positive thing, otherwise he would never have accepted,” Capello insists. “A guy like him needs to be free to use his ideas. I don’t think he’s going to make a fuss on an economic level, but he would rather be able to implement the ideas he has in his head. That way he can really be useful.”
Milan won the Serie A title under manager Maldini, but there were a number of disagreements with the club owner, and Maldini left the club at the end of the following season.
Capello said: “We have to consider the relationship with the owners. It’s difficult when you encounter turbulence. You have to really understand the history behind it. The Scudetto victory was great, but it’s true that things got a little complicated after that. We know that Paolo has charisma and he was a winner and an important figure wherever he was.”
Leonardo has a rich history with Milan, having also been a manager at PSG. Asked if he was “too” used to having ready money at these clubs, Capello said: “But money doesn’t matter. It’s all about ideas, not resources.”
“We have to understand what is missing and what needs to happen and find a way to achieve that goal. Moreover, Leo is a great person and that is not a bad thing. He and Paolo are becoming stronger in beliefs, ideas and skills. Their project will be a clear one, and I will be interested to see how it develops as they present it, starting with the next head coach.”
And if Capello were the manager, who would he choose?
“I have already said that Conte and Mancini, who did well with the Azzurri, are also great, but putting the national team upstream a few days before a series of important games is too much to forget.”
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