Giovanni Malago elected president of the Italian federation | OneFootball

Giovanni Malago has been elected president of the Italian federation with a clear majority, setting a demanding in-tray for the 67-year-old. According to L'Équipe, restoring the national team is high among the immediate tasks.

Malago won 68.58% of the vote on Monday, defeating Giancarlo Abete. He succeeds Gabriele Gravina, who had been in office since 2018 and resigned in April.

The former Italian Olympic committee president, in post from 2013 to 2025, addressed delegates, saying he could achieve things only with their backing. He also previously chaired the Milan-Cortina 2026 organising committee.

He inherits a troubled set-up. Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, having already missed the 2018 and 2022 editions.

Under-21 coach Silvio Baldini handled June friendlies on an interim basis. The search for a new head coach should be one of Malago's early priorities.

The name of Roberto Mancini, Italy coach between 2018 and 2023, has been widely mentioned.

Malago plans to put youth development at the centre of Italian football, strengthening reserve teams and smoothing academy pathways into Serie A. He also lists the league's economic sustainability, growth of the women's game and reform of the national amateur league among priorities.

Source: L'Équipe