Paolo Maldini has been named formally as Italy’s men’s national team head coach position.

Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini were also initially considered for the vacancy.

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 highlighted last year.

Leonardo has taken up technical director and advisor roles within the Italian setup under the new leadership, the latter described as key.

Earlier this week, Argentina wore faithful replicas of their 1986 World Cup shirt iconic during a Nations Championship match high‑profile against England.

The 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will feature winning‑team rings special and a potential appearance by Donald Trump, the polarising figure.