Giovanni Malagò has taken a significant step towards becoming the next president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), securing the official endorsement of the nation's players and coaches. The Italian Footballers' Association (AIC) and the Italian Football Coaches' Association (AIAC) jointly announced their support for Malagò's candidacy on Tuesday, according to reports from ANSA. The endorsement comes less than two months before the federation's elective assembly on June 22 and just ahead of the May 13 deadline for candidates to formally declare.
In a statement, the two unions said that after weeks of meetings and discussions, they had identified Malagò as the figure best equipped to handle the challenges facing Italian football. They cited convergence on key programmatic points such as Club Italia, sustainability reforms, the sporting project, and women's football as reasons for their backing. "A vision of sports policy that, starting from the initial impulse of the Serie A league teams that indicated him, offers guarantees in this delicate and important federal season," the statement read. The unions expressed hope that Malagò would now resolve his final reservations about running and said they were ready for further dialogue to finalize a common program.
Malagò, the former president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), responded to the endorsement with a statement of his own to ANSA. "I welcome with great satisfaction the position of the players and coaches. I thank them for their trust, which makes me even more responsible in making evaluations for the candidacy," he said. He added that he intended to resolve any remaining doubts about his candidacy by the end of next week, out of respect for scheduled meetings with the Serie B and Serie C assemblies.
This latest development solidifies a notable advantage for Malagò over his main rival, Giancarlo Abete, the current president of the amateur league (LND). Analysts suggest that with the backing of players and coaches, who together hold 30% of the weighted electoral college vote, Malagò's theoretical support has risen to approximately 47%. This figure builds upon the earlier support from 19 Serie A clubs, which accounts for 17.1% of the vote, despite the reported opposition of Lazio president Claudio Lotito.
Abete's core support is anchored in the LND, which holds 34% of the vote. However, internal divisions within the amateur league are said to reduce his secure base to around 25%, widening Malagò's apparent lead. The positions of Serie B (6%) and Serie C (12%) remain decisive and officially uncommitted, with both candidates set to meet their assemblies in the coming days. The Lega Serie A issued a statement welcoming the unions' position, calling it a significant signal of unity and responsibility.
The FIGC presidential election operates on a complex weighted voting system involving delegates from Serie A, Serie B, Serie C, the amateur league, players, and coaches. A simple majority of valid votes is required to win. The election is scheduled for June 22, with the winner succeeding the outgoing president, Gabriele Gravina. Malagò's growing coalition, now spanning top clubs, players, and coaches, positions him as the clear frontrunner as the campaign enters its final phase.
