Freshly elected, Giovanni Malagò, the new FIGC President, is already getting down to work. Having secured 68.58% of the vote, he now takes on a role that is as demanding as it is exciting.

"The priority is to bring the Federation team together," he said during his post-election press conference. "President Gravina, despite receiving almost unanimous support, found it extremely difficult to push through reforms, and that's something we need to reflect on. We then have technical and sporting matters to address, before rebuilding our relationship with part of the political world. We must provide answers to the structural issues that have emerged in Italian football in recent years, and all of these priorities require urgent action. That will demand a different mindset and a genuine willingness to embrace change through reform."

HARD WORK AND THE NATIONAL TEAM. Malagò will chair his first Federal Council meeting on 1 July. "I'm very pleased with the result because anything above 60% support would have been a strong mandate. We'll get to work immediately and, at the first meeting, which is an essential step ahead of the registration of the different leagues, we'll roll up our sleeves and get started." Questions about the appointment of the new Italy head coach were inevitable. "I'll repeat what I've said over the past few days: I haven't spoken to anyone yet, but from today we'll start giving it our full attention. What I can say is that my decision to stand for election was an act of love, and whoever becomes Italy head coach must fully embrace that vision and this challenge. At another point in history, I might have backed the idea of promoting a coach from within the youth national team setup. But with the current level of public scrutiny, how can you realistically take that approach? In the medium term, if the opportunity presents itself, it could certainly be an option worth considering. Right now, however, we also have to face reality when it comes to the budget. We can't preach sustainability and then spend recklessly. Our resources must be allocated to all parts of the game."

YOUNG PLAYERS AND SPORTING IUS SOLI. The discussion also turned to youth development. "First of all, I'd like to wish Bollini and the U19s the very best ahead of the upcoming European Championship. I was genuinely shocked to learn how many players at the World Cup were not born in the country they represent. I want to make it clear that throughout these years I've always spoken only about sports policy, specifically sporting ius soli (an Italian legal principle allowing certain foreign minors legally resident in Italy to register with Italian sports federations under the same rules as Italian citizens, even before obtaining Italian citizenship, ed.), which I have consistently supported."

THE AUTONOMY OF SPORT. Stressing the importance of sporting independence, Malagò added: "I will always defend the autonomy of sport and stand firmly behind it. But the current situation is stagnant. Italian football's problems have so far been both systemic and personal, and someone will have to be willing to change. I'm not someone who is easily intimidated, but I do reflect carefully on the responsibility that comes with the challenge ahead. The expectations are enormous, but that's simply the reality we face."

EURO 2032, WOMEN'S FOOTBALL AND REFEREES. Malagò concluded by addressing UEFA EURO 2032, women's football and refereeing. "Hosting EURO 2032 is a challenge in itself. I've already held discussions with UEFA, Michele Uva and President Čeferin. We cannot afford to fall short. As for women's football, there are two distinct aspects: the elite level, which attracts attention, sponsors and audiences, and the grassroots game. We could also launch initiatives to double the number of registered female players, but we're currently lacking grassroots clubs and facilities. The situation needs a more comprehensive approach. Finally, the CONI Guarantee Board ruled that there were no grounds for appointing a commissioner. As long as referees remain independent, I'm satisfied. That said, there is a much broader issue surrounding the AIA (Italian Referees' Association) that will need to be addressed."