The legendary Paolo Maldini is the leading candidate for the position of President of the Italian Football Federation.

According to multiple sources from Italian media, AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini is being targeted for the new President role of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) following Gabriele Gravina's resignation announcement.

Italian football is currently in a period of profound turmoil after an unprecedented historical failure: the national team failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups.

The consequence has been a series of high-level personnel changes, including Gravina leaving the presidency, head coach Gennaro Gattuso parting ways with the national team, and team leader Gianluigi Buffon also stepping down.

In this context, FIGC is urgently seeking a new leader with sufficient credibility to carry out comprehensive reforms, particularly in youth player development – a factor considered fundamental for the revival of Italian football.

According to the newspaper La Stampa, Sports Minister Andrea Abodi has proposed Maldini as the top candidate for this powerful position.

The election for FIGC President is scheduled to take place on June 22nd, and candidates need to be confirmed at least 40 days before the voting date.

However, persuading Maldini to accept is not an easy task. The former Italian national team captain has repeatedly stated that he only wishes to remain associated with Milan if he continues working within the domestic football environment.

After retiring, Maldini served as Milan's development director for the 2018–2019 season before becoming technical director. Under his guidance, the red-and-black club reclaimed the Serie A championship in the 2021–2022 season after over a decade of waiting. However, he was unexpectedly dismissed in June 2023 in a highly controversial decision.

Not only an icon of Milan, Maldini is also one of the greatest defenders in world football history. He made 126 appearances for the Italian national team, a record that stood for many years, and is currently also a co-owner of Miami FC.

If he accepts, Maldini could bring the necessary reformative momentum to Italian football, thanks to his modern management experience and immense prestige among players. Yet, the major question remains whether the 55-year-old legend is ready to step out of his familiar "comfort zone" to shoulder the responsibility of rebuilding the national football system.