July 11 (Reuters) - 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.
