theglobalsun – Andrea Maldera has officially been appointed head coach of the Ukraine national football team. The Italian becomes the first foreign manager in the history of Ukraine’s national side.
He replaces Serhiy Rebrov, who left the position in April after Ukraine failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Strong Existing Connection With Ukrainian Football
Although Maldera is Italian, he already has deep experience working within Ukrainian football. He spent five years as assistant coach to Andriy Shevchenko during Shevchenko’s time managing the national team between 2016 and 2021.
That period included Ukraine reaching the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2020. One of the country’s strongest performances at a major international competition.
Shevchenko, who now serves as president of the Ukrainian Association of Football, strongly backed Maldera’s appointment.
He described Maldera as “an Italian with a Ukrainian soul” and praised both his coaching background and understanding of the national team environment.
Experience Alongside Roberto De Zerbi
Maldera has spent much of his recent coaching career working alongside Roberto De Zerbi.
He previously worked under De Zerbi at:
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Olympique de Marseille
Those roles allowed Maldera to gain experience in both the Premier League and European football.
De Zerbi is now manager of Tottenham Hotspur. Making Maldera’s appointment another notable development connected to the Italian coach’s wider coaching network.
First Senior National Team Role
The Ukraine job marks Maldera’s first appointment as a senior head coach. Despite years of experience as an assistant, this role now gives him the responsibility of leading a national side independently for the first time.
The Ukrainian federation appears to believe his familiarity with the squad structure and his tactical education under modern attacking coaches make him well suited for the position.
Shevchenko also emphasized that Maldera’s ambition to become a head coach played a major role in the federation’s decision.
Ukraine Entering New Era
Ukraine now enters a rebuilding phase following disappointment in World Cup qualification. The federation appears eager to modernize the team’s playing style and continue building on the technical football philosophy introduced during Shevchenko’s managerial era.
Maldera’s background under De Zerbi could bring a stronger emphasis on possession football, structured buildup play, and tactical flexibility.
As the first foreign manager in the national team’s history, his appointment also represents a major symbolic moment for Ukrainian football.
The challenge ahead will be guiding Ukraine back into contention for qualification at future major tournaments while managing expectations during a period of transition.
