Giovanni Malagò

Giovanni Malagò emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Gabriele Gravina as FIGC president within days of Gravina's resignation on 2 April 2026. Malagò, who left the CONI presidency in 2025 after twelve years at the helm, has the backing of Serie A clubs, including Naples president Aurelio De Laurentiis, and is considered the candidate best placed to command a Coalition. However, he faces opposition from Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, who intends to have a significant say in the succession. FIGC elections are scheduled for 22 June 2026 in Rome.

Malagò was born on 13 March 1959 in Rome. After graduating in economics he built a business career through Samocar, his family's car dealership, while becoming increasingly active in sports administration. He was elected CONI president in February 2013, defeating rival Raffaele Pagnozzi, and was re-elected multiple times thereafter. He served as a member of the International Olympic Committee from January 2019. His greatest achievement in office was leading the organising committee of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the largest multi-sport event to be held on Italian soil since the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Malagò's candidacy represents a continuity-with-reform offer to Italian football: a proven administrator with international credibility and a track record of delivering complex multi-stakeholder events, but without the baggage of Gravina's two consecutive World Cup failures. Other candidates in the running include former FIGC president Giancarlo Abete (2007-2014) and Demetrio Albertini, backed by the players' constituency. The outcome of the June vote will determine whether Italian football opts for technocratic renovation or a deeper political reset.