Gennaro Gattuso has officially been appointed as the new coach of the Italy squad. ‘He is a symbol of Italian football,’ said FIGC President Gabriele Gravina.
A presentation press conference will be held in Rome on Thursday June 19.
“Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football,” said Federation chief Gravina.
“The Azzurri jersey is like a second skin for him. His motivation, his professionalism and his experience will be fundamental to face the next Nazionale challenges.
“Aware of the importance of the objective we want to achieve, I thank him for his availability and the total dedication with which he accepted this challenge, sharing the FIGC’s project of overall development of our football, with the Azzurri strategically at the centre.”
Gattuso lifetime in the Italy shirt
As a player, Gattuso was part of the 2006 World Cup winning squad and made 73 senior appearances for the Nazionale.
He was also in the side that won the European Under-21 Championship in 2000.
The former Milan, Napoli, Valencia, Olympique Marseille and Hajduk Split tactician was a free agent after terminating his deal with the Croatian club by mutual consent, just one season into the tenure.
Italy had sacked CT Luciano Spalletti following the 3-0 defeat to Norway, which opened their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, but kept him on to oversee the 2-0 victory against Moldova on Monday.
Claudio Ranieri had initially been approached, but wanted to maintain his promise to act as special advisor to Roma and retire from management.
Italy are next in action against Estonia on September 5, then Israel on September 8.
I wish him well but I can’t get my head around this appointment. There is nothing in his CV to suggest he is the right man to turn Italy’s fortunes around.
Gattuso won WC 2006 as a player, he will win WC 2026 as a coach. Mark my words. Yes he is not the best CT available but his motivation to the Azzurri will have an impact.
Good Luck Gattuso, loved you when you were a player. Will never forget how you got crazy when Italy beat Germany in WC 2006.
per sempre con te Ringhio 🔴⚫
Forza gattuso ❤️❤️
Simple, it means No WC for the third time in a row … talk about negative record!
I was hoping that Gravina and Mancini could have buried the hatchet and that Mancini could lead us forward as before. Gattuso’s managerial record is hardly inspiring which makes it a strange appointment. He will add some grit that has been sadly lacking of late but nonetheless I don’t see him as the right man to lead Italy to the next World Cup. I hope that I am wrong.
WTF
Tine will tell. Give him a chance. He has won the world cup as player and may know what is needed.
As much as this looks like a 3rd consecutive disaster in the making, I’ll give him the benefit of doubt for one reason : as much as success at club level doesn’t predict success at international level (see Spaletti), failure at club level shouldn’t predict failure at internation level.
That said… WHY him? What’s the idea here? Can’t be technical genius. Gritty coach may give an initial electric shock, but I litterally see nothing else beyond that.
love u gattuso, those beautiful memories of winning 2006 wc are the heart of life . I want Italia glory I ve been waiting since 2006 to lift the wc. A warrior like u can bring motivation to these lads whom ve forgot the history of Italia football
Forza Italia.
The most feared team in the world once Remember, why teams scared of facing Italy was to difficult even score a goal.
Gattuso will also have the Bonucci and Braza backing him- solid experience there. Buffon is a very very sharp mind, he too will have his say. Lets remember Gattuso is the face of the national team, but he will have loads of experience in the wings:)
Like all feckless bureaucrats today in Govt and sports ,Gravina caved to pressure from the minority .One thing is for sure ,once Gattuso fails, Gravina needs to go as well .
I greatly appreciated Rino in the 2006 WC ,but coaching the National team is over his pay grade . I hope i’m wrong ,but this is going to be a 3rd straight WC without an Italy team . WTF
Gattuso. Fantastic player. Awful manager. I am a Roma fan and this is the first time that Italy seem worse off than my team. Reminds me a little of when they gave the gig to Donadoni. Only this time it’s worse in my opinion. Donadoni came after Lippi and had a crazy team sheet. It’s a shame we lost Carlo to Brazil. He would have been the perfect fit.
Italy can’t qualify for world cup,guarrented
So who’s next in line for WHEN he fails? There is no chance Italy qualify with this squad and coach.
oh Yee of little faith
a warrior spirit is required
Saba you’re living on another planet mate.
There is no chance we will qualify for the world cup. See you at the next Euros hopefully
Hey Fabio, do you think you will be able to live stream from that “another planet” where you’ll be hanging out
in order to watch the Azzurri go deep into the 2026 World Cup?