The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has officially announced the appointment of Gennaro Gattuso, a former player who won the 2006 World Cup, as the new manager of the national team. This decision comes as Italy prepares for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Gattuso takes over from Luciano Spalletti, who was dismissed following a disappointing 3-0 defeat in the opening World Cup qualifier and an underwhelming performance at the 2024 UEFA European Championship, where Italy exited in the Round of 16 after losing to Switzerland.
Gattuso is scheduled to be formally introduced as the new head coach during a press conference in Rome on June 19th. His first matches in charge of the Azzurri will be in September, when Italy faces Estonia and Israel in qualifiers. Gattuso brings diverse coaching experience, having previously managed prominent clubs like Napoli and AC Milan, as well as more recent stints at Valencia, Marseille, and Hajduk Split.
Gattuso embodies Italian football. His drive, professional approach, and experience will be vital for tackling the national team`s future challenges. Recognizing the significance of the objective we aim for, I express my gratitude for his readiness and complete commitment in accepting this challenge.
— Gabriele Gravina, FIGC President
Gattuso steps into the role after Spalletti was relieved of his duties last week, just before Italy`s subsequent 2-0 victory against Moldova. Spalletti had taken charge of the Italian squad in August 2023, following the resignation of his predecessor, Roberto Mancini, and subsequently led the team through the less-than-impressive Euro 2024 campaign.
Despite Spalletti remaining at the helm for a period, the team`s performance levels did not see significant improvement, with Italy losing three of their last four matches, including the initial 3-0 loss to Norway in the first 2026 World Cup qualifying match. Prior to appointing Gattuso, the FIGC had reportedly approached former AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri about the managerial vacancy. However, Ranieri declined the offer, opting to continue his advisory role with the Friedkin family, owners of the Italian club. Following Ranieri`s refusal, the federation explored other candidates, with Gattuso emerging as the favoured choice alongside Stefano Pioli, currently managing Al-Nassr, who is also expected to depart Saudi Arabia and is linked with the Fiorentina manager position.
Dominic Ashworth