By Samuel Akpan with agency report
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has officially appointed Gennaro Gattuso as the new head coach of the national team.
He replaces Luciano Spalletti who was sacked after a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Norway in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign opener.
Gattuso, a 47-year-old World Cup-winning midfielder from Italy’s 2006 triumph, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having earned 73 caps for Italy and played in three World Cups.
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina hailed Gattuso as “a symbol of Italian football,” praising his professionalism and experience.
“Gattuso is not only a World Cup winner — he’s a fighter, a leader, and a symbol of Italian football. We believe he can transmit the spirit and identity this team needs,” Gravina said.
Gattuso’s appointment comes after Claudio Ranieri turned down the national team job, opting to stay at Roma in a senior advisory role.
Gattuso has had an itinerant coaching career, managing nine clubs in 12 years, including Milan, Napoli, Valencia, Marseille, and most recently, Croatian side Hajduk Split.
His most successful stint came at Napoli, where he won the Coppa Italia in 2020 and recorded a win percentage of 56.79%.
Gattuso has taken charge of 376 senior matches as a manager, winning 161, drawing 108, and losing 107, giving him an overall win rate of 42.82%.
Gattuso’s first match in charge will be against Estonia on September 5, with Italy currently sitting third in World Cup qualifying Group I, behind Norway and Israel.
Italy will also face Israel on September 8. Gattuso’s task is to restore confidence and identity to the team, which has struggled to find its footing in the qualifiers.
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