The race for the next Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President is heating up, and one candidate is keeping his cards close to his chest—at least for now. Giancarlo Abete, who previously served as FIGC President from 2007 to 2014, is vying for the top job once again, going head-to-head with former CONI President Giovanni Malagò in the upcoming June 22 election.

When asked about his preferred picks for key roles in the Italy setup—including the all-important head coach position—Abete remained tight-lipped, but he did drop a hint that has fans buzzing. "There are quality names," Abete told reporters via TMW, when pressed about Claudio Ranieri. "In this case, there was already an approach at different times."

Ranieri, the beloved veteran manager who recently stepped down as Roma's Senior Advisor, is now available to take the reins of the Azzurri. And Abete didn't shy away from acknowledging his pedigree: "Ranieri is a quality name. The spirit is to identify people who can serve as reference points for the technical project. There are a few people in Italy who can have this task—you can count them on one hand—but this is part of different timing and relations."

Both Abete and Malagò unveiled their programs on Thursday, but Abete noted that he expected more concrete proposals from his rival. "I expected to see other proposals regarding names and programs, but they didn't materialise," he said. "There aren't any names indicated in the document. Surely, there's a need to identify the right people, especially in Club Italia, who would add value to the project that has been ongoing for years."

While Abete admitted he has names in mind, he stressed that discretion is key. "Each one of us might have some names in mind, but has no right to make them public, unless the subjects involved are interested."

With the election just weeks away, the future of Italian football hangs in the balance. Whoever takes the FIGC helm will have the crucial task of appointing a new head coach to guide the Azzurri forward. And if Ranieri is indeed in the mix, it could be a homecoming worth cheering for—both for the game and for fans looking to rep the next era of Italian football in style.