Giovanni Malagò emerges as leading candidate for Italian FA presidency
Giovanni Malagò, the former president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), has emerged as the leading candidate to become the next president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). The election will be held on June 22, following the resignation of previous president Gabriele Gravina. According to reports in the Italian press, candidacies must be submitted by May 13, requiring backing from at least one federation component or 138 delegates.
Malagò, who recently oversaw the successful Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic bid, is reportedly the preferred candidate of Serie A's major clubs. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has already publicly floated his name, an unusual pre-election intervention. Sources indicate the league's clubs were due to hold a video call to discuss the matter, which was postponed until an assembly in April. While Inter, for instance, are said to favour Malagò, the club's CEO Giuseppe Marotta is also viewed as a natural candidate for his sporting merits, though his time is considered to be in the future.
The path for Malagò is not without significant obstacles. His relationship with Italy's Minister for Sport, Andrea Abodi, is described as having cooled considerably in recent years, becoming a major unknown in the race. FIGC insiders in Via Rosellini are also said to have mixed memories of Malagò's past tenure as a special commissioner for the federation. Another figure with the stature to compete is Giancarlo Abete, the president of the Italian amateur league (LND) and a former FIGC president himself. When asked about a potential candidacy, Abete recently stated it was "a problem I do not pose to myself."
Abete could draw significant support from the vast electoral base of Serie D and from components loyal to Gravina, who was re-elected months ago with 98.68% of the vote. Renzo Ulivieri, president of the Italian coaches' association, stated that "no one agreed with the resignation." However, an Abete presidency might be seen as excessive continuity with the previous regime and lacks the clear backing of Serie A's power clubs. Minister Abodi has also indicated a preference for a period of administrative stewardship, saying the situation requires "an operative time" and hoping for conditions that allow for a commissionership, though such a move is not currently considered likely.
Other potential candidates remain on the periphery. Matteo Marani, the respected president of Lega Pro (Serie C), has many admirers but is believed to be focused on his current role. Italian football legend Gianni Rivera has put himself forward, while the names of other former stars like Paolo Maldini or Alessandro Del Piero are considered outside possibilities. The election comes at a critical time for Italian football, following the national team's failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, placing added significance on the leadership contest.
