After Pirlo, will a ‘third choice coach’ be enough to save the Malagò-Maldini-Leonardo axis?

A stop compared to the planned route, which could and should have been avoided. Not only for a formal aspect but also, and above all, for a substantial reason: Pirlo’s commercial choices are criticizable as long as he does not have to represent his country, they become unsustainable when they clearly conflict with Italy’s international position. And it was not difficult to imagine that that Russian contract could represent an obstacle that was impossible to circumvent even for the new federal course.

Not only that. Even if we want to quickly get back into the technical groove of the choice that fell on Pirlo, the chain of errors can only get longer. The Russian mess came immediately after the courtship, made public and proudly claimed, of Pep Guardiola. Pirlo started as a second choice, furthermore weighed down by the enormous distance, in terms of experience and results, from the first choice.

Now, by force of circumstances, the next Italy coach will be a third choice, who will come after the unattainable first choice and the at least reckless second choice. Not exactly the best premise for the transition that must inaugurate the process of re-founding an Italian football sick of results and left without prospects. To avoid nipping in the bud the team to which Malagò chose to entrust the technical management, Maldini was technical director and Leonardo advisor, an agreement is needed on a third name that can in some way be compatible with the identikit outlined, that of a coach who can interpret the philosophy and the change that the pair of former AC Milan players deem necessary.

A playful profile will be enough, relatively young and sufficiently inside the world of Maldini and Leonardo (Thiago Motta?). Or will it fail and Malagò will have to proceed with a new re-foundation which before the coach also reviews the leadership of the technical area? In one sense or another, Italian football deserves less confusion. (By Fabio Insenga)