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CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – MARCH 05: Giovanni Malago, President of the Organising Committee for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, looks on during the Paralympic Games Opening Press Conference ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at on March 05, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
As different names are put forward to take over from Gabriele Gravina as FIGC President, a big problem becomes self-evident in Italian football.
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Gravina has tended his resignation as President of the Italian Football Federation following the third consecutive failure to qualify for a World Cup.
New elections will be held on June 22 to find his replacement, ending a tenure that had lasted since October 2018, the wake of the first time the Azzurri lost the play-offs.
Italy coach will be chosen by new FIGC President
Gravina is 72 years old, and has been in and around Italian football for several decades, as he was also the Lega Pro President from 2015 to 2018.
He replaced Carlo Tavecchio, who died in January 2023 at the age of 79.
The President of the Italian Coaches Association (AIAC) Renzo Ulivieri confessed he had wanted Gravina to remain at the helm, and he is just turned 85.
The favourite to take over as FIGC President is Giovanni Malagò, who is a sprightly 67 and has been President of the CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) since 2013.
Another likely option is current Lega Nazionale Dilettanti (Amateur League) President Giancarlo Abete, who will be 76 in August.
Only today, Italy legend Gianni Rivera announced he was putting his name forward as a candidate to lead the FIGC, and he is 82 years old.
