Malagò elected FIGC president amid Italian football crisis

Italian football enters a new chapter as Giovanni Malagò, the man who steered the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics organizing committee, has been elected president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). The appointment comes at a turbulent time for Italian football, with the federation mired in governance issues, financial instability, and a lingering sense of crisis that has eroded public trust.

A crisis-laden federation

Malagò inherits an FIGC that has been rocked by repeated scandals in recent years. From refereeing controversies to infighting among club owners, and even a failure to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, Italian football’s once-envied administrative structure has looked increasingly fragile. The federation has also faced criticism over its handling of financial fair play, stadium modernization, and the development of young talent. Many see Malagò’s arrival as a chance to reset the agenda.

Why Malagò?

Malagò’s background is in sports administration rather than football specifically. As president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) from 2013 to 2021, he oversaw Italy’s Olympic movement and later led the successful bid for the Milan Cortina Games. That experience in high-stakes project management and international diplomacy is precisely what the FIGC needs, according to his supporters. He is seen as a unifier capable of bridging the gap between the professional leagues, the amateur sector, and the government.

What happens now

Malagò’s immediate priorities are likely to include restoring credibility to the federation’s leadership, pushing through long-delayed governance reforms, and improving relations with both the Italian government and UEFA. He will also need to address the ongoing struggle of the national team, which—despite winning UEFA Euro 2020—failed to qualify for the last two World Cups. The outcome of his presidency could shape Italian football for a decade, particularly if he can leverage his Olympic contacts to push for better infrastructure and a more competitive Serie A.

What it means

For the average fan, Malagò’s election signals that the FIGC is serious about cleaning house. But he faces a steep uphill climb: the federation’s problems are deep, and immediate results are unlikely. If he can apply his Olympic-honed organizational skills to football’s chaos, he may just steer Italian calcio back to stability. If not, the crisis could deepen. Either way, this is the most important leadership change in Italian football since the Calciopoli scandals.