For the First Time, Ukraine’s National Team Appoints a Foreign Coach

Andrea Maldera Takes the Helm

According to Главком: Andrea Maldera has been named the new head coach of the Ukrainian national football team, marking a historic first: never before has a foreign specialist led the squad. His annual salary will be under €500,000, with a monthly pay ranging between €30,000 and €35,000. That is considerably less than the previous coaching staff under Serhiy Rebrov, whose yearly compensation reached up to €2,000,000-Rebrov himself earned €1.25 million.

Maldera is set to take charge of the team in mid-May. He will arrive in Kyiv on May 18, and the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) will officially confirm his appointment on May 19. UAF President Andriy Shevchenko will introduce the new coach during the committee meeting. Additionally, on May 20, Shevchenko and Maldera will attend the Ukrainian Cup final, where Dynamo Kyiv will face Chernihiv at the Arena Lviv.

Background and Upcoming Challenges

What is known about Ukraine’s new head coach? Until June 2016, Maldera worked within the Italian club AC Milan’s structure as a technical development coach and match analyst. For five years, he served as an assistant to head coach Andriy Shevchenko. In August 2021, Maldera left the national team to join the English club Brighton. His most recent role was as an assistant at French side Marseille. Notably, Maldera has no prior experience as a head coach.

In June, Ukraine will play two friendly matches-against Poland and Denmark. In the fall of 2026, the team will compete in League B of the Nations League, facing Hungary, Georgia, and Northern Ireland.

Andrea Maldera’s appointment as head coach of the Ukrainian national team represents a significant milestone in the squad’s development, as it is the first time a foreign coach will lead the side. This could signal a fresh tactical and managerial approach, drawing on Maldera’s experience in European football. Moreover, the June friendlies will serve as a crucial test for the new coaching staff ahead of the important Nations League campaign in the autumn.

As the Ukrainian national team embarks on this new chapter under Andrea Maldera, it's essential to consider the broader context of coaching changes within the team. Recently, former coach Serhiy Rebrov has been in discussions with a club in the UAE, highlighting the shifting landscape of football leadership in Ukraine. To gain further insights into these developments, read more about Rebrov's potential move here.