Italian Football Federation election draws in Maldini, Del Piero and Albertini
A host of Italian football legends, including Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Del Piero, are being considered for prominent roles within the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) as the election to succeed outgoing president Gabriele Gravina takes shape. According to reports from Italy, the associations representing players and coaches are evaluating a renewal operation and could propose Demetrio Albertini as a presidential candidate, with other iconic figures being lined up for key technical positions.
Albertini, the former AC Milan and Italy midfielder who was defeated by Carlo Tavecchio in the 2014 presidential election, is one of the leading names. The current mayor of Verona, Damiano Tommasi, is also under consideration for the presidency. Meanwhile, discussions in Roman corridors suggest that figures of prestige like Del Piero, Maldini, and even Roberto Baggio could be approached to support a new president in a technical capacity. Recently retired Gianluigi Buffon, who just stepped down as the head of the national team delegation, is also mentioned as a potential returnee in a similar role if called upon.
The source material indicates that none of these high-profile individuals would accept a merely symbolic role used for electoral purposes. Maldini, who won a Serie A title as a director at Milan before his painful departure from the club, would reportedly only join the Federation if he could significantly influence strategic choices. Similarly, Del Piero, who has maintained a distance from football's daily turmoil while working as a pundit for Sky, would have specific conditions for lending his image to what is being termed a 'Great Refoundation' of Italian football after three consecutive World Cup qualifying failures.
The electoral process remains complex and undefined ahead of a key Serie A assembly. The league, which holds 18% of the vote and wields considerable influence, is expected to shape the profile of the winning candidate. Giovanni Malagò, the former president of the Italian Olympic Committee and a key figure in the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics bid, is widely reported to be the favoured candidate of many major clubs and is very interested in the role. However, his official candidacy is unlikely to be launched without a broad consensus within Serie A.
Further complicating the landscape is the position of the government, with Sports Minister Andrea Abodi reportedly not viewing Malagò's candidacy favourably. This could lead to a push from other voting blocs, such as the amateur league which holds 34% of the vote, to support an alternative like the current head of the amateur league, Giancarlo Abete. Official candidacies must be submitted by May 13, with the election scheduled for June 22. The winner requires an absolute majority of 51%, and if no candidate achieves this after three ballots, the FIGC faces the prospect of being placed under government commission—an outcome the football powers are keen to avoid to preserve their autonomy.
