Giovanni Malagò, new president of the Italian Football Federation

Giovanni Malagò was elected president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Monday, defeating Giancarlo Abete. Malagò, who previously led the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) from 2013 to 2025, takes the helm of the organization amidst a crisis, notably the national team's failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.

Malagò secured victory with 343,048 weighted votes, representing 68.58% of the total, while Abete garnered 145,976 votes (29.17%). His campaign, titled "United for the Future of Italian Football," prioritizes structural modernization and financial sustainability within the sport.

Key initiatives proposed by Malagò include reforming and renovating stadium infrastructure, optimizing revenue from audiovisual rights, and digitizing federation processes. He also plans to introduce incentives to foster young talent and integrate them into the elite level, with the goal of improving the national team's competitiveness in the short to medium term.

A significant immediate challenge for Malagò will be appointing a new national team coach. Local media reports suggest Roberto Mancini, a former national team manager, is the leading candidate to spearhead the new project. The election itself was seen as crucial for addressing issues such as declining competitiveness, talent management, and the need for structural reforms in Italian football.