Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed as the new head coach of Italy’s national football team, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced on Sunday, June. The former World Cup-winning midfielder succeeds Luciano Spalletti and is tasked with reviving the Azzurri’s fortunes and leading them to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Gattuso, 47, earned 73 caps for Italy during a distinguished playing career and was a key figure in the squad that won the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He will be officially presented to the media on Thursday.
“Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football,” FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said in a statement. “The blue shirt is like a second skin for him. His motivation, his professionalism and his experience will be essential. Aware of the importance of the objective we want to achieve, I thank him for the total dedication with which he has accepted this challenge.”
Italy, four-time World Cup winners, have failed to qualify for the last two editions of the tournament. Their campaign for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, began in disappointing fashion with a 3-0 defeat to Norway last week.
Gattuso’s most recent managerial stint was with Croatian side Hajduk Split, where he helped the club qualify for the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League. His coaching résumé also includes spells at AC Milan, Napoli, Valencia, and Marseille. He lifted the Coppa Italia with Napoli in the 2019/20 season, his only major honour as a manager so far.
Despite his high-profile playing career, Gattuso’s time on the sidelines has been mixed. He lasted only 22 matches with Valencia and 24 with Marseille. A planned appointment at Fiorentina in 2021 was cancelled just weeks before he was due to take charge.
According to reports in the Italian media, former Italy defenders Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci will join Gattuso’s backroom staff, while former national team coach Cesare Prandelli is set to oversee the youth development programmes.
Gattuso takes over following the sacking of Luciano Spalletti, who was dismissed after Italy’s heavy loss to Norway. Although the Azzurri bounced back with a win over Moldova on Monday, the FIGC opted for a change in leadership to reset the team’s trajectory.
Italy will return to action in September with Group I qualifiers against Estonia and Israel, as Gattuso begins his mission to return the Azzurri to the world’s biggest stage.
