Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Giorgio Chiellini is not interested in replacing Paolo Maldini as Italy’s technical director following his dramatic resignation.
Maldini was appointed to oversee on-pitch matters for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on July 11, as they looked to rebuild after failing to qualify for a third successive World Cup.
Maldini, who hired former Brazil international Leonardo as his advisor, held talks with Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti over becoming the Azzurri’s head coach, following the dismissal of Gennaro Gattuso.
After both rejected the job, Maldini moved for his former AC Milan team-mate Andrea Pirlo, but public backlash provoked by his work with a Russian gambling company forced the midfielder to withdraw his name from consideration.
And on Monday, the crisis enveloping the Italy team deepened as widespread reports said Maldini and Leonardo had resigned, just 16 days after joining the FIGC.
With newly elected FIGC president Giovanni Malago now under huge pressure to find a technical director and a head coach, Chiellini had been linked with the former job.
The former centre-back has performed a similar role at Juventus since last year, and he insists he is happy in Turin.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Chiellini said: “I just wanted to clarify something, on the news that has come out in the media in recent days.
“I am very happy with my role at Juventus, where I have the support of Giovanni Carnevali and the club.”
Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte are now reportedly the favourites for the Italy head coaching job, having both had spells in charge of the Azzurri before.
Conte led the team from 2014 to 2016, overseeing a quarter-final loss to Germany at Euro 2016.
Mancini, meanwhile, was in charge for Italy’s triumph over England in the Euro 2020 final, though he also failed to lead them to the 2022 World Cup before controversially resigning to join Saudi Arabia in 2023.
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