Gattuso named Italy’s new coach after Spalletti’s sack

Gennaro Gattuso, the former World Cup-winning midfielder, has been appointed as the new head coach of Italy’s national football team. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced this appointment on Sunday, June. Gattuso succeeds Luciano Spalletti and is tasked with reviving the Azzurri’s fortunes and leading them to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

During his distinguished playing career, Gattuso, who is 47 years old, earned 73 caps for Italy. He was a key figure in the squad that won the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Gattuso will be officially presented to the media on Thursday.

FIGC president Gabriele Gravina expressed his gratitude to Gattuso in a statement. He described Gattuso as a symbol of Italian football and emphasized the significance of the blue shirt to him. Gravina highlighted Gattuso’s motivation, professionalism, and experience, stating that they will be crucial in achieving their objective. He also acknowledged the importance of the challenge and thanked Gattuso for his dedication.

Italy, a four-time World Cup winner, has struggled to qualify for the tournament in recent years. Their campaign for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, began in a disappointing manner with a 3-0 defeat to Norway last week.

Gattuso’s most recent managerial stint was with Croatian side Hajduk Split, where he successfully guided the club to qualification for the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League. His coaching resume also includes notable stints at AC Milan, Napoli, Valencia, and Marseille. Notably, he lifted the Coppa Italia with Napoli in the 2019/20 season, which stands as his only major managerial achievement to date.

Despite his illustrious playing career, Gattuso’s tenure on the sidelines has been marked by both triumphs and challenges. His brief spells at Valencia and Marseille were relatively unsuccessful, with only 22 and 24 matches respectively. Moreover, a planned appointment at Fiorentina in 2021 was abruptly canceled just weeks before his scheduled start.

According to recent reports in the Italian media, former Italy defenders Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci will join Gattuso’s backroom staff. In addition, former national team coach Cesare Prandelli will oversee the youth development programs.

Gattuso takes over following the sacking of Luciano Spalletti, who was dismissed after Italy’s heavy defeat to Norway. While the Azzurri managed to bounce back with a win over Moldova on Monday, the FIGC decided to make a change in leadership to reset the team’s trajectory.

Italy will resume its campaign in September with Group I qualifiers against Estonia and Israel. As Gattuso embarks on his mission, his primary objective is to lead the Azzurri back to the world’s biggest stage.