Former AC chief Milan and Napoli Gennaro Gattuso were appointed head coach of the Italian national football team, and announced the Italian football Federation (FIGC) on Sunday. Gattuso takes over from Lucian Spalletti, who was released last week after the defeat of 3-0 in Norway in Italy by the opening qualifier of the World Cup.
Gattuso, 47, will be officially introduced on Thursday at the Parco dei Dei Hotel Hotel. Figc President Gabriele Gravin appreciated the appointment and called Gattuso a “symbol of Italian football” and said his passion, experience and professionalism would be the key to Azzurri’s leadership in a major period.
“His motivation and complete determination of this challenge reflect his deep connection with the blue jersey,” Gravina said in his statement. “We believe he’s the right man who leads the national team forward when we focus on the World Cup qualification.”
Spalletti, who was in charge of less than two years, managed his last game in winning 2-0 over Moldovska just a few days after confirming his ejection. Italy is currently the third in Group I and will be the next 5th September to face Estonia in Bergam, followed by a clash against Israel in Hungary.
Gattuso, the winner of the 2006 World Cup with 73 caps for Italy, signed an annual contract until the World Cup FIFA 2026, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Last time he trained the Croatian party Hajduk Split and left with mutual consent after ensuring the completion of the league in third place.
During his twelve-year-old managerial career, Gattuso trained nine clubs, including Milan, Napoli-So won the Coppa Italia in 2020-Valencia and Marseille. He started his coaching trip in 2013 as a player-trimmer in Swiss Club Sion.
His appointment follows after withdrawal of Claudio Ranieri, who refused Italian work to continue his higher advisory role on AS. Figc member Gianluigi Buffon reportedly supported Gattuso for this position.
Manager Lazio Maurizio Sarri offered public support and encouraged him to remain faithful to his football identity. Sarri also expressed concerns about the gap between the strength of the Italian clubs-third in Europe-A recent fighting the national team, including departure from 6 to EURO 2024, despite the victory in Euro 2020.
Published:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
June 15, 2025
