Chaos consumed Italian football as Paolo Maldini and Leonardo resigned during the search for a manager – can Roberto Mancini now bring calm on being given the role?

Leonardo and Paolo Maldini, who worked together at AC Milan, lasted less than a month with Italy Italy's search for a manager has ended with the hiring of Roberto Mancini, but only after descending into complete chaos and leading technical director to the Italian FA (FIGC) Paolo Maldini and special advisor Leonardo to quit after only 16 days. "It was a calm and consensual decision to go our separate ways," Malago said of Maldini and Leonardo's exit on Tuesday. "I needed someone who could share my vision of who would be the Italy coach. This shared vision on Mancini was not present with Maldini. "Maldini and Leo were gentlemen, as always, but also clear and honest on their views. So was I.” Italian football may no longer be in a leadership vacuum, but the future remains deeply uncertain. Their defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina in the final qualifying play-off in March meant they failed to qualify for a third World Cup in a row, and was followed by the swift resignation of manager Gennaro Gattuso. "Italy cannot keep arriving at the last stage just to play for qualification," said former defender Franco Baresi.