According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) will appoint Gianluigi Buffon as the Sports Director (direttore sportivo) of the Italian national team, a move inspired by the setup in the German national team. Buffon’s future role will not involve interfering with the head coach or tactical matters, but he will become a key figure with real power within the Italian team.
Media reports indicate that this special position originated from Buffon’s own request. After Italy’s elimination from the European Championship, Buffon was deeply distressed, disappointed, and most importantly… confused. During the tournament, Buffon’s role in the Italian team was that of a “team leader,” but the legendary goalkeeper felt like his hands were tied. He watched the team struggle and players fall into disarray, yet he did not know what he could do, which left him at a loss.
During that period, Buffon felt like he was just a “mascot.” He was a member of the Italian team, but his main responsibility was signing autographs and taking photos with fans and journalists from various countries. On one side, Spalletti was overwhelmed by various tasks, while on the other side, Buffon wanted to help but was limited by his role and could not do anything truly beneficial for the national team. Therefore, Buffon resigned after the European Championship, stating that unless the federation gave him a practical position where he could make a difference, influence the team, and utilize his experience, he would not want to be a mere “figurehead.”
After discussions among FIGC President Gabriele Gravina, National Team Head Coach Roberto Mancini, and National Team Organizational Secretary Vlado Vranjes, they created a new position tailored for Buffon: “National Team Sports Director.” This is modeled after the role of Oliver Bierhoff in the German national team. The key points are threefold: first, to integrate the Italian national team and its youth teams (such as U23, U21, U19, etc.) into a cohesive unit. Second, Buffon will be closer to the national team and the match venues, without interfering with the coach, tactical decisions, or training, but with the authority to manage dressing room affairs. Third, Buffon’s responsibilities will extend beyond national team training and matches; during club competitions, he will also handle coordination with clubs and manage issues related to national team players.
In summary, the FIGC aims to establish a “club mechanism” for the Italian national team, with Buffon serving as a “sports director who does not manage transfers.” FIGC President Gravina stated that many people believe the coach should be responsible for everything, and all matters of the national team should be handed over to him. However, the coach is neither a caretaker nor a magician who can solve all problems. Buffon will not be an adversary to Mancini but rather a helper. The primary goal of this appointment is to “build an open, modern, and more supportive work team for the players.”
