Quick Facts
Biography
Giancarlo Abete (born 26 August, 1950) is an Italian politician and sport director. Formerly and member of the Italian parliament, Abete is now the third vice president of UEFA. Abete also served positions in the FIGC before being admitted to UEFA in 2009.
Biography
Abete was born in Rome, Italy. An entrepreneur, he went to Sapienza University of Rome and earned a degree in Economics and Commerce. In 1972, when Abete was 22, joined as member of the Italian Parliament. He stayed there for 20 years before deciding to go elsewhere in 1992. In 1994, Abete was elected as the president of the Rome entrepreneurs association which he served as until 2000. Abete served as the head of Rome's tourist board from 1999 to 2003.
In football
Abete first became involved in the FIGC in 1989. He later became president of the Serie C and the association's vice president from 1996-2000 and again from 2001-2006. He was head of the Italian delegation when Italy won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Abete was elected president of the FIGC in April 2007. In 2009, Abete was admitted to UEFA in 2009 and became a vice president in 2011. Abete stepped down from his position of president of the FIGC in 2014, but he still continues to be a vice president of UEFA.