July 11 : Former international defender Paolo Maldini was named technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Saturday as Italy seek to get the national side back on track after failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third successive time.Maldini, who won 126 caps for Italy, served in the same role for four years at AC Milan, where he had spent his entire playing career and helped the side to win seven Serie A titles.His new appointment comes after Giovanni Malago was elected FIGC president last month after heading the organising committee for February's Milano Cortina Winter Olympics."President Giovanni Malago is pleased to announce that Paolo Maldini has accepted the position of Technical Director of the Federation," the FIGC said in a statement on Saturday. The F