Giovanni Malago's Bid for Italian Football Federation Presidency
Giovanni Malago has secured the backing of Serie A clubs for the presidency of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). The election for the new leader is scheduled for June 22. Malago received support from 18 of the 20 top-flight clubs, with only Lazio and Hellas Verona voting against his candidacy. This leadership transition comes at a pivotal moment for Italian football, which is seeking to rebuild its international standing.
Giovanni Malago's Professional Background
Malago brings significant management experience to the role. He served as the director of the airline Air One from 2002 to 2008. Since 2013, and until the summer of 2025, he has been the President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). He has also been a member of the International Olympic Committee and led the organizing committee for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Currently, the Italian national team is enduring a difficult period in international football. Italy has failed to qualify for the World Cup for three consecutive tournaments. The nation's last World Cup appearance was in 2014, where the team was eliminated in the group stage. In qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, Italy finished second in its group behind Spain but lost 1-0 to Sweden in the playoff. For the 2022 tournament, Italy again missed out after a 1-0 playoff defeat to North Macedonia.
Amid this backdrop of change, Gabriele Gravina has resigned from his position as FIGC President, creating additional challenges for the incoming leader, who is likely to be Giovanni Malago. The federation's presidential election on June 22 could significantly influence the future direction and development of Italian football.
The majority support from Serie A clubs for Giovanni Malago indicates a strong desire for new leadership within Italian football.
Concurrently, the national team's recent struggles on the global stage underscore the urgent need for decisive action to restore its former glory. The upcoming federation election may prove a critical step in defining a new strategy for the sport's development in Italy and improving its international results.
As Italian football undergoes significant changes, the recent resignations of key figures, including manager Gattuso and FIGC President Gravina, have added urgency to the upcoming leadership election. This transition period highlights the critical need for a unified vision to restore the national team's former glory. For more insights on the current challenges facing Italy's football landscape, read about the recent departures of Gattuso and Gravina here.