Montezemolo Says “No, Thank You” to Serie A League Presidency

Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the former Ferrari president, has declined the opportunity to become the new president of Serie A, Italy’s top football league. In a statement to the press agency ANSA, Montezemolo expressed his gratitude for being considered but stated, “I’ve noticed my name circulating for the Serie A presidency. I appreciate those who thought of me, but I’m currently very busy traveling… with Italo.”

Montezemolo, the founder and president of the private Italian railway company Italo, has an impressive track record in leadership roles. He served as Ferrari’s president from 1991 to 2014, led Fiat from 2004 to 2010, and headed Maserati from 1997 to 2005. His involvement in sports management includes serving as the director-general for the 1990 FIFA World Cup organizing committee in Italy and a stint as executive vice president of Juventus football club.

Meanwhile, the Serie A Assembly is scheduled to hold its second round of voting for the presidency this afternoon. In the first round, candidate Ezio Maria Simonelli, a former accountant for the Berlusconi family, secured 13 votes out of the required 14. Simonelli has the backing of several major clubs, including Inter, Juventus, Milan, and Roma. The election remains contentious, with some club owners, such as Claudio Lotito of Lazio and Aurelio De Laurentiis of Napoli, leading the opposition. The positions of Genoa and Verona, which have recently changed ownership, are yet to be confirmed.