Italian players’ and coaches’ associations are backing Malago as new FA chief

Italy’s players and coaching associations joined Serie A on Thursday and backed Giovanni Malago, who led the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, for the presidency of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

“Players and coaches have a shared vision, identifying Giovanni Malago as the person capable of meeting the numerous challenges we face now and especially in the future,” said a statement from the players (AIC) and coaching (AIAC) associations.

The 67-year-old Malago is the heavy favorite to succeed Gabriele Gravina, who resigned earlier in April after the men’s national team failed to qualify for a third straight World Cup by losing to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the qualifying play-offs.

Coach Gennaro Gattuso and team general manager Gianluigi Buffon also resigned.

The only other candidate is former FIGC president Giancarlo Abete, with May 13 as the deadline for nominations.

With the support of Serie A, the AIC and the AIAC, Malago has 48 percent of the vote ahead of the elections scheduled for June 22.

Serie A said in a statement that all three organizations supporting Malago «are an important sign of unity and responsibility, at a time when Italian football needs vision, stability and innovation.»

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Italy’s amateur football authorities, who control 34 percent of the vote, have not publicly backed either candidate.

Malago was president of the Milan-Cortina organizing committee between 2013 and 2025 and also head of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), the country’s highest sports organization.

Whoever follows Gravina will not only have to appoint a new national coach, but also fulfill a long-standing desire for reform within the FIGC and lead the Italian leg of Euro 2032, which is being organized jointly with Turkey.

UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin recently told Gazzetta Dello Sport that Italy could lose the tournament due to the condition of the country’s football stadiums, which he called «among the worst in Europe».

Published on April 30, 2026