Giovanni Malagò, President of the Italian Football Federation, has announced that Diana Bianchedi will now lead the Italian national team delegation. She replaces Gianluigi Buffon, who stepped down following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The Italian media highlights that this appointment is notable because, unlike her three predecessors—Buffon, Gianluca Vialli, and Gigi Riva—Bianchedi does not have a football background. Instead, she is connected to fencing and has recently worked with CONI, the Italian National Olympic Committee.
Bianchedi is a two-time Olympic champion, having won gold in 1992 and 2000. In 2001, she became the youngest person and the first woman ever appointed to the executive committee of CONI. In 2025, she was promoted to vice president of CONI.
She also holds a medical degree as a doctor and surgeon and played a key role in Milan-Cortina’s successful bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“Football should no longer be seen as something separate,” Malagò told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Diana has international prestige and authority, is a two-time Olympic champion, and has an extensive résumé including multiple specializations, medical education, a master’s degree in sports management, a leadership role in Milan-Cortina, and serves as deputy vice president of CONI.”
He added, “I would say this is a cultural revolution. Being deputy vice president of CONI and simultaneously the face of the Italian football team is like bringing football back to the center of a comprehensive dialogue with all other sports.”
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