Giovanni Malagò emerges as frontrunner for Italian FA presidency
Giovanni Malagò has emerged as the consensus candidate from Serie A clubs to become the next president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), according to sources. The former president of the Italian National Olympic Committee is expected to be nominated as the league's candidate ahead of the election on June 22.
The assembly of Serie A clubs, Lega Serie A, is set to hold a decisive meeting to discuss the nomination. The 64-year-old Malagò, who led the Italian National Olympic Committee from 2013 to 2023, has reportedly secured the backing of several of Italy's top clubs. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, a former critic of Malagò, is now a key supporter, and the candidate also has the reported support of clubs like Juventus, AC Milan, AS Roma, and Inter Milan, whose CEO, Giuseppe Marotta, is a vocal proponent.
This broad support from Serie A is considered crucial, as the league's official endorsement is a significant step for any candidate. The league is expected to hold a formal vote to confirm Malagò as its candidate, with a simple majority of 11 out of 20 clubs required for nomination. Reports suggest his support is broad enough to secure a much larger majority, which would give him a commanding position heading into the wider FIGC election. The support from major clubs is seen as a decisive factor in consolidating his candidacy against potential rivals.
Malagò's main challenger for the FIGC presidency is expected to be the current vice-commissioner of the Italian Football Federation, Gabriele Gravina, who has not yet officially resigned but is widely expected to step down. Other potential candidates, such as Adriano Galliani of Monza, have reportedly declined to run, with Galliani himself endorsing Malagò as "the best possible president." The government, through Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi, has reportedly expressed a preference for a "new face" but has not opposed Malagò's candidacy.
The path is not entirely clear, however. Some smaller Serie A clubs are reportedly wary of Malagò due to his potential support for a league reduction from 20 to 18 teams, a controversial and unpopular proposal among many clubs. Meanwhile, other figures within the football federation, including Gravina and former FIGC president Carlo Tavecchio, are seen as potential alternatives or are maneuvering for influence in a post-election landscape. The Italian Footballers' Association (AIC) is also reportedly pushing for a candidate with a playing background, with names like Demetrio Albertini, Damiano Tommasi, and Alessandro Del Piero being mentioned as potential future leaders, though they are not considered frontrunners for the presidency at this time.
A key factor will be the position of the Italian government. While Minister Abodi has not endorsed a candidate, the government holds the power to appoint an extraordinary commissioner to run the FIGC if the election process fails or is deadlocked. This option remains a last resort. The coming days, culminating in the Serie A assembly and the subsequent FIGC election, will determine if Malagò can translate his league support into the presidency of Italian football's governing body.
