Giovanni Malagò has been elected as the new FIGC President after a decisive first-round victory, with the former CONI chief now tasked with rebuilding Italian football and appointing a new national team coach.
Giovanni Malagò has officially been elected as the new President of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), ushering in a new chapter for Italian football following the resignation of Gabriele Gravina. The 67-year-old secured a convincing victory over rival candidate Giancarlo Abete in elections held at the FIGC headquarters in Rome.
Following the announcement of the result, Malagò expressed both gratitude and determination as he prepared to take on one of the most demanding roles in Italian sport. The veteran sports administrator acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead and stressed the importance of unity within the football community.
“It is with profound emotion that I take on this sense of responsibility,” Malagò said after his victory. “I cannot do anything alone, but with you, I can do anything.”
The election involved 274 delegates representing every major sector of Italian football. Malagò secured an impressive 68.58 percent of the vote in the first round, comfortably surpassing the 50 percent threshold required for victory. Abete received 29.17 percent, while 2.25 percent of ballots were left blank.
Giovanni Malagò is the new President of the FIGC 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/JAkBSkfe94
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) June 22, 2026
Voting within the FIGC system is weighted according to the influence of different football bodies. Serie A accounts for 18 percent of the vote, Serie B six percent, Serie C 12 percent, the amateur leagues 34 percent, the Players’ Association 20 percent and the Coaches’ Association 10 percent.
Abete entered the election with a significant advantage due to his position as President of the amateur leagues, which hold the largest voting share. However, Malagò gained overwhelming support from most of the other football institutions, allowing him to secure victory without the need for a second round.
Malagò arrives at the FIGC with a wealth of experience in sports administration. He served as President of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) from 2013 to 2025 and also played a leading role in the organisation of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. His leadership credentials were a major factor in earning the confidence of Italian football stakeholders.
His first major challenge will be restoring confidence in the national team setup after Italy’s historic failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. With Gravina stepping down in the aftermath of that disappointment, one of Malagò’s immediate priorities will be appointing a new coach capable of leading the Azzurri back to competitiveness on the international stage.
