Former AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani announced on Wednesday he was running for the top job at the embattled Italian football federation (FIGC), local media reported.
The FIGC presidential election is scheduled for December 14, with Giovanni Malago the only other candidate.
Galliani, 82, worked at Silvio Berlusconi's Milan between 1986 and 2017, helping them to five Champions League titles before joining Monza.
In October, the FIGC was placed under guardianship of Italy's Olympic Committee with Malago as its acting head, but with an interim title of the governing body's 'extraordinary commissioner'.
Gabriele Gravina resigned in June following Italy's loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the play-offs of 2026 World Cup qualifying.
Italy last reached the showpiece tournament in 2014.
