Giovanni Malagò is reportedly in the lead for the FIGC presidency, suggesting that Italy might bring in either Gianfranco Zola or Paolo Maldini once a new leader for the football association is appointed.
Malagò and Giancarlo Abete are the primary candidates to succeed Gabriele Gravina as the President of the FIGC. Gravina resigned from his post shortly after Italy’s defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off final in late March.
The election for the FIGC Presidency is scheduled for June 22. In the preceding two weeks, both candidates have been actively presenting their platforms to various segments of the Italian football system.
On Thursday, Malagò and Abete met with representatives from the players’ and coaches’ associations. These groups collectively hold 30% of the voting power in the June election (20% from the players’ association and 10% from the coaches’).
According to reports from Tuttosport on Friday, both the players’ and coaches’ associations are showing a slight inclination towards selecting Malagò to replace Gravina.
Friday’s report indicates that if appointed, Malagò plans to recruit a prominent figure, likely a former national team star, to join the FIGC’s structure.
Tuttosport suggests that Zola, who currently serves as the vice-president of Lega Pro, is an ideal choice. He is familiar with the operational aspects and is well-regarded by current FIGC officials. Maldini is also considered an attractive prospect due to his extensive experience in directorial roles during his post-playing career with Milan.
