In a decisive electoral outcome for Italian soccer’s struggling governing body, Giovanni Malagò — the seasoned sports administrator who oversaw organization of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics — has secured the top role at the crisis-hit Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
Monday’s leadership vote delivered a clear mandate to Malagò, who claimed 68.58% of the ballots cast. His only challenger, former FIGC president Giancarlo Abete, captured just 29.17% of the vote, leaving Malagò with an overwhelming victory to steer Italian soccer through its current turbulent period.
The incoming president faces an immediate high-stakes priority: filling the vacant head coaching position for Italy’s senior men’s national team. The role opened up after Gennaro Gattuso stepped down following the Azzurri’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup, a streak that has deepened frustration across the Italian soccer community. The exit follows the resignation of former FIGC president Gabriele Gravina, who left his post in the wake of Italy’s playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in World Cup qualifying.
Two familiar faces from previous Italian national team tenures have emerged as the leading contenders for the coaching job: Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte. Mancini, who led Italy to a historic UEFA European Championship title in 2021, departed the Azzurri post shortly after the team failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup to take the helm of Saudi Arabia’s national side. He left that role in 2024 and most recently parted ways with Qatari club Al-Sadd, leaving him available for the vacancy. Conte, who managed Italy at the 2016 European Championship, stepped down from his position at top Italian club Napoli earlier this year, making him another readily available candidate for the role.
Beyond his recent work leading the Milan Cortina Olympics organizing committee, Malagò brings a long background in elite sports governance to the FIGC presidency. He previously served as president of the Italian National Olympic Committee and still holds a seat as a member of the International Olympic Committee, giving him deep connections and experience in global sports leadership as he takes on one of the most challenging roles in Italian soccer.