After failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, Giovanni Malago was chosen president of the Italian Football Federation on Monday. His job is to return the four-time world champions to the top of the sport.
Malago, a 67-year-old businessman, has just returned from leading the organizing committee for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in February, which was praised for its seamless operation.
At the FIGC assembly in Rome, the former futsal player and head of the Italian National Olympic Committee defeated Giancarlo Abete with 68.58% of the vote.
He takes over for Gabriele Gravina, who left after the unexpected World Cup qualification loss in April sparked intense criticism from politicians and supporters. Italian football was at its lowest point in forty years when the nation’s clubs tumbled out of the European competitions.
Malago’s immediate task is to bring the federation together and resolve a serious problem in Italian soccer.I am quite aware of my obligations, yet I am not terrified. In an interview following the election, he stated, “The expectations are ridiculously high, but that is also the case within the Federation itself.”
Appointing a new coach for the men’s national team, revamping youth development, and expediting preparations for Italy’s co-hosting of the European Championship in 2032 are among his top priorities.
Roots shouldn’t be a burden.
“The Football Federation needs to be an inspiration as much as an administrative organization. Prior to the election, Malago declared, “It is the largest social institution in the country, and not just in terms of numbers.”We must use our roots as motivation to look forward to a new era that is brave, triumphant, modest, and ambitious rather than as a source of nostalgia or a burden.
After Italy was eliminated from the World Cup due to a playoff loss to Bosnia & Herzegovina in April, a comprehensive revamp is generally considered long overdue.
In the immediate aftermath of the setback, former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon resigned as chairman of the national team delegation, and head coach Gennaro Gattuso resigned.
Long before the qualifying exit, warning flags had been becoming worse.
Prominent individuals, such as former striker Roberto Baggio, had previously warned that Italy’s method for nurturing new talent was out of date.
Malago urged cooperation, saying, “Alone I can do nothing, together we can do everything,” upon his election.
The assembly provided a time for introspection for Gravina, 72, who has been the federation’s leader since 2018.
As the meeting started, Gravina told reporters, “I already said it, I should have left earlier.”
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