Gravina Quits After Italy's WC Triple Whammy: Now It's a Pensioners' Derby for FIGC Crown
Gabriele Gravina has resigned as FIGC President after Italy's third consecutive World Cup qualification failure, triggering elections on June 22. Favourites to replace the 72-year-old include 67-year-old CONI chief Giovanni Malagò, 76-year-old Giancarlo Abete, and 82-year-old legend Gianni Rivera. The ageing candidates spotlight deeper generational issues in Italian football governance.
Italy's Football Federation in Crisis: Gravina Waves Goodbye
Blimey, Italy's Azzurri have done it again – crashed out of World Cup qualification for the third straight time. Gabriele Gravina, the FIGC President since 2018, has chucked in the towel. Elections are set for June 22 to pick his successor, as reported by Susy Campanale at Football Italia.
Gravina stepped up after Carlo Tavecchio's era ended amid the first playoff disaster. At 72, he's no spring chicken, with decades in the game, including a stint as Lega Pro boss from 2015-2018. But even Renzo Ulivieri, the 85-year-old head of the Italian Coaches Association, reckoned he should've stuck around.
The Line-Up: Who's Next in the Hot Seat?
Enter the candidates, and crikey, it's like a reunion for Italy's silver-haired brigade. Top of the betting is Giovanni Malagò, the zippy 67-year-old who's run the CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) since 2013. He's got that Olympic glow – spotted at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics presser, looking sharp amid the snow.
Then there's Giancarlo Abete, current Lega Nazionale Dilettanti president, hitting 76 come August. A familiar face from his old FIGC days, he's the steady-hand option for the amateur ranks bleeding into pro football.
And just to top it off, football legend Gianni Rivera – yes, the 82-year-old Ballon d'Or winner – lobbed his hat in the ring. The ex-Milan maestro thinks he can sort the mess. Talk about experience – these lads have more combined years than a Roman emperor's reign!
Why Age Matters in Italy's Football Circus
Let's be honest, mate, this highlights a right old pickle in Italian football. While the Serie A gladiators like Inter and Napoli battle it out, the federation's top job seems reserved for gents who remember Mussolini's pitches. Gravina's exit leaves the Italy coach gig hanging – the new prez gets to pick Luciano Spalletti's successor (or not).
Gravina was there for the Bosnia playoff heartbreak in Zenica, flanked by sports minister Andrea Abodi and CONI's Luciano Buonfiglio. Another L-R photo op that screamed 'end of an era'. But with candidates averaging grandpa ages, is fresh blood too much to ask?
Ulivieri's plea for Gravina to stay? Touching, but at 85, he's preaching longevity from the pulpit. Malagò might inject some Olympic energy, Abete amateur grit, and Rivera pure nostalgia. Yet, as Italy licks wounds from yet another FIFA World Cup 2026 snub, fans crave vision, not just vintage.
Picture the FIGC boardroom: walking sticks at dawn, tales of '66 World Cup glory. Humorous? Aye, but deadly serious for the Azzurri's future. Will the winner drag Italy into the modern era or keep it stuck in sepia tones?
The June 22 vote could reshape national team quals, coach hunts, and even Serie A tweaks. One thing's sure – no one's accusing these contenders of being too green. Italian football's midlife crisis just got a geriatric twist.
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