Italy could turn to Boniek as alternative to Maldini for technical director role

Saturday’s reports claim that former Juventus and Roma forward and former UEFA vice-President Zbigniew Boniek is among the alternative options to Paolo Maldini for the vacant technical director role with the Italy national team.

Boniek option emerges for Italy

Giovanni Malagò has recently been appointed as the new President of the FIGC and he will be tasked with redesigning the Italy national team set-up following the departures of head coach Gennaro Gattuso and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon earlier this year.

Visit syntagm.co.za for more information.

Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini remain the frontrunners for the vacant Italy national team head coach role, but it is understood that the FIGC will look to appoint a new technical director before making a final decision on the next CT.

Several legendary former Italy internationals have been linked with the technical director role, most prominently Maldini, who has been out of work since leaving his beloved Milan in controversial circumstances in the summer of 2023.

EMPOLI – OCTOBER 01: Paolo Maldini of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Empoli FC and AC MIlan at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 1, 2022 in Empoli. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

There have also been mentions of Buffon, Alessandro Del Piero, Gianfranco Zola, Claudio Ranieri, Roberto Baggio, Demetrio Albertini, Beppe Bergomi.

However, according to reports from the Corriere dello Sport, the new name that has emerged on Italy’s list of potential alternatives to Maldini is Boniek, who was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame back in 2019.

FLORENCE – MAY 23: Zbigniew Kazimierz Boniek former player of Widzew Lodz , Juventus and AS Roma , currently UEFA Vice-President during the FIGC Hall of Fame Event on May 23, 2022 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Boniek spent the final six years of his playing career in Serie A with Juventus and Roma, and later returned to Italy as coach of Lecce, Bari, Sambenedettese and Avellino.

Boniek served as the chair of the Polish FA between 2012 and 2021, when he was appointed as UEFA vice-President under Aleksander Ceferin, serving alongside former FIGC President Gabriele Gravina in the same role.

Boniek has been out of work since stepping down from his position with UEFA in April of 2025.

Read full story at source

See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source

Visit betsport.cv for more information.

The NHL promised some celebrity surprises in Buffalo Friday night, and having Justin Bieber show up to announce Toronto’s selection with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft didn’t disappoint.

Bieber, a self-proclaimed die-hard superfan of the Maple Leafs, helped kick off the festivities when he read aloud Gavin McKenna’s name inside Buffalo’s Key Bank Center.

“What’s going on Buffalo?” a smiling Bieber said he entered the arena. “What’s up Toronto?”

The pop star said he was excited to be part of “an incredible night.”

“Oh man, the child in me is ecstatic right now. I’ve been a Leafs fan since I was just a little boy,” Bieber beamed. “These nights are so special. I’m so grateful to be here.”

Biebs making it official pic.twitter.com/AuvjdUC7ga

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) June 26, 2026

Clad in red zip-up emblazoned with a Canadian flag, Bieber greeted NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and acknowledged the families of some of the other top picks as he made his way to the stage.

He and Bettman shared a word before making Toronto’s selection official.

“Mr. McKenna, we would like to draft you to the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Bieber said.

Bieber then introduced Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who congratulated the 18-year-old Penn State forward on joining the team.

“I know how exciting this is for you and your family, and what an incredible honour it is,” Matthews said via video. “You’re coming to a franchise that has an amazing history and fanbase, and we’re all working to write the next great chapter together. You’re going to be a very important part of that.”

McKenna, who selected Bieber’s Yukon as his walk-up song in honour of his home province in northern Canada, is the first No. 1 pick by Toronto since the Maple Leafs selected Matthews in 2016. He’s only the third in franchise history, including Wendel Clark in 1985.

Sportsnet ’s Ailish Forfar asked Bieber if he was “manifesting a Yukon boy to your hometown team” when he wrote the song.

“Um, sure, yeah,” Bieber said laughing.

Bieber said it was “hard to put into words” how he felt that Toronto landed the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.

“I know this guy is going to kill it,” he said, adding that he’s “absolutely” going to be at Maple Leafs games this year wearing McKenna’s jersey.

On social media, many Maple Leafs fans cheered on Bieber for being the one who got to announce the news.

One enthusiastic fan said the Beauty and a Beat singer gave McKenna a night to remember.

“Whatever you think about it, t hat’s a story McKenna will tell forever even when he is 60. One of the biggest artists to live announced your draft pick,” they wrote.

“Not a pop fan, but Biebs was the right call,” another wrote, with a third calling Bieber’s inclusion a “great idea.”

“JB has always been a great supporter and never ever forgets where he is from,” read one comment on Instagram.

• 'HARD TO MISS': Justin Bieber's 'Willy Wonka' outfit steals the show as Leafs rout Kings
• Drake loses $1M bet, blames Bieber Curse for Maple Leafs' epic Game 7 loss
• Justin Bieber on Toronto Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup chances: 'This is the year'
• Justin Bieber celebrates Toronto Maple Leafs' Game 1 victory: 'This the yearski'

Bieber bleeds blue and white

O ver the years, the Peaches hitmaker , who is pals with Matthews, has fearlessly cheered on Toronto on social media.

His 2021 song Hold On ( a track he said was a “love letter to the Maple Leafs”) was dedicated to the group and he even co-designed one of the Leafs’ alternate “Next Gen” jerseys.

During the pandemic-shortened NHL season back in 2021, the London, Ont.-born musician took his devotion to a whole new level when he picked the Leafs to win the Stanley Cup.

Last year, he skipped out on the 2025 Met Gala in New York City to watch the Maple Leafs take on the Florida Panthers during the second round of that year’s NHL Playoffs.

During a family vacation with wife Hailey Bieber last summer, Bieber shared snaps of his son Jack Blues wearing a Matthews Maple Leafs jersey.

His unwavering fandom is exactly why Bieber – who is one of the world’s biggest music stars – was the right pick to introduce McKenna Friday night.

Unlike the Toronto Raptors’ global ambassador Drake, who was absent from his courtside seats for much of last year’s NBA season, Bieber relentlessly applauds the Buds, whether they’re winning or losing.

After a heartbreaking Game 7 loss against the Panthers during last year’s Playoffs, Bieber congratulated the team’s efforts – and promised Leafs Nation that the team can still be a winner.

“ I don’t remember a time in my life when I haven’t been obsessed with the leafsssss ,” he wrote on Instagram . “ This year we made it farther than we have in so long and I’m happy about that. I can be patient cuz I know this is the team to do it.”

That’s exactly who you want leading your fanbase. This is a franchise that has chased a Stanley Cup for close to 60 years. Maple Leafs fans need “Beliebers” in their corner.

[email protected]

Read full story at source