Maldini turns to Thiago Motta as next Italy coach after Pirlo ruled out

Paolo Maldini has opened talks with Thiago Motta over becoming the new Italy head coach, after Andrea Pirlo’s candidacy collapsed and approaches to Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola were rejected.

The Italian Football Federation’s technical director is now in negotiations with the Italian-Brazilian coach, with Motta emerging as the leading option to take charge of the Azzurri, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The search for a successor continues after the federation failed to persuade Ancelotti or Manchester City manager Guardiola to accept the role, while Pirlo’s prospects ended amid controversy over his position as an ambassador for a Russian betting site’s brand.

Motta emerges from a long shortlist

In recent weeks, a number of high-profile names have been discussed for the post, including Antonio Conte, Roberto Mancini, Raffaele Palladino and Stefano Pioli. The list had also expanded to feature former Fiorentina coach Paolo Vanoli.

However, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the focus has now shifted decisively towards Motta, with active discussions under way between Maldini and the current leading candidate.

There is a belief within the federation that Motta could satisfy several competing demands. On one side, Maldini and Leonardo are keen to introduce a “new and different” footballing approach for the national team. On the other, Italian FA president Giovanni Malago is understood to be insisting on a figure with greater experience than Pirlo.

Motta’s playing pedigree

Motta, who turns 44 next month, represented Italy at international level despite being born in Brazil. He first arrived in Serie A with Genoa in 2008, impressing sufficiently to earn a move to Inter Milan.

He later left Serie A for Paris Saint-Germain in January 2012, adding Ligue 1 experience to a playing career that had already taken in spells in Spain and Italy, and consolidating his reputation as a tactically astute midfielder.

Mixed coaching record, Champions League breakthrough

Since moving into management, Motta has experienced varied results. His early coaching spells at Genoa and Spezia were marked by inconsistency, with flashes of promise tempered by uneven runs of form.

It was at Bologna, however, that he made his most convincing case as an elite-level coach. Over a two-year period he left a clear imprint on the team’s style and performance, guiding Bologna to qualification for the UEFA Champions League and significantly enhancing his standing within Italian football.

That success earned him the opportunity to take over at Juventus in the summer of 2024. Motta’s time in Turin started with optimism but ultimately proved short-lived.

He was dismissed in March 2025 after overseeing 18 wins, 16 draws and eight defeats in all competitions – a record which, while solid, fell short of the expectations at the club and prompted the hierarchy to make a change.

Federation weighs up next step

Motta is now out of work and available, a situation that has helped accelerate discussions with Maldini as the federation looks to end a protracted recruitment process.

No agreement has yet been announced, but with Pirlo no longer under consideration and earlier targets having turned the job down, Motta has moved to the forefront of Italy’s coaching search as the Azzurri prepare for a new chapter.