On February 3, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) will elect its new president and it is not certain that Gabriele Gravina, current leader of the institution, will remain in his place. Widely criticized and attacked from all sides, the current number 1 of the Football Federation should run for a third term, but in recent days a name has emerged capable of challenging him and perhaps even beating him. It is that of Alessandro Del Piero, ready to enter the list of candidates for the most coveted seat in Italian football. For the moment, there has not yet been a formal announcement, but the candidacy of the former Juventus captain could be official within a few weeks. According to La RepubblicaDel Piero has already been approached to study his possible availability and he has not denied to those around him that he has rejected the advances of the leaders and former players of Italian football.
Indeed, Alessandro Del Piero would be determined to take up the challenge in good conditions. We don’t yet know who would officially support him, but a legend of his caliber, world champion in 2006 with Marcelo Lippi’s Italy, would certainly have the image requirements necessary to play such an important role, even at international level: “I would like to see Del Piero as president of the Football Federation. We all know he’s an important character, let’s see what happens. I would be happy for him if he decided to take this important step. Naturally, I would like people who understand football to be part of these relevant institutions. Alex can do anything because he’s a big, clean character. He will decide and we will wait. Naturally, my vote is there without taking anything away from the person who currently occupies this position“, said his friend and former AS Roma rival.
Del Piero designated great savior!
For several months, Gabriele Gravina has found himself in the eye of the storm with popular criticism on several subjects. Alessandro Del Piero’s candidacy, if it were to materialize, could enjoy strong support within the Football Federation, coaches or perhaps even part of the Lega Serie A, which is is often found at war with Gravina. Lazio president Claudio Lotito is one of Gravina’s most ardent enemies and could therefore support Alesasndro Del Piero’s project: “no member, not even the footballers’ association, asked me to do it. If they don’t invite you, you can’t show up, you have to be brought by someone. Saying no is not true, but at this time, there is nothing concrete. I have been compared to a marginal group rather than another and that is not like me, I do not work against anyone especially in the FIGC, I also won a World Cup. I just turned 40. I didn’t get up in the morning and decide. To apply you need someone to take you and none of the members, he asked me, what should I say, if they don’t invite you, you can’t run“, explained the Juventus legend. To this rumor, Gabriele Gravina, who formalized his candidacy for his own succession, joked about the Del Piero rumor: “Someone needs to support him to run“. Note that Alessandro Del Piero also has the support of Giuseppe Bergomi, world champion in 1982.
The possible arrival of Alessandro Del Piero, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, in the offices of the Federation would be his first position in the world of football since he hung up his boots in 2014 after stints in Australia and in India. Until now, only a rumor concerning him to join the post-Andrea Agnelli management of Juventus had caused ink to flow: “as a footballer, I am everything. A situation like this must be taken into consideration with the greatest respect for institutions. For me, the team is fundamental and there must be a team spirit, even more so for the FIGC. To say it’s false wouldn’t be true, but you have to sit at a table with someone who wants you, and to date, there’s nothing concrete. I have already spoken about the presidency of another team in the past when there was nothing concrete. I repeat, none of the components of the FIGC and even the footballers’ association have called me», concluded the man with 705 matches and 289 goals with the Bianconeri. Between the sale of TV rights abroad, the compromised organization of Euro 2032 with Turkey, the standoff with the Association of Italian Referees (AIA), the crisis of the national selection in the World Cup, the dilapidated stadiums in the four corners of the country, the low use of young Italian players or even the construction of the major reform of the championships, the next president will have his work cut out to revolutionize Calcio.
