Gattuso leaves Italy job after World Cup failure
Gennaro Gattuso has left his role as Italy boss by mutual consent and “with pain in his heart,” three days after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive men’s World Cup.
The Azzurri suffered a penalty shootout defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuesday’s playoff final in Zenica, prompting Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina and head of delegation Gianluigi Buffon, the former Juventus goalkeeper, to step down the next day.
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Head coach Gattuso, 48, followed suit Friday after taking responsibility for Italy managing to finish only second in their qualifying group, six points behind Norway, leading to a victorious first playoff round against Northern Ireland but then to the fateful showdown in Bosnia.
The former Valencia, Marseille and Hajduk Split boss had been given a contract until the end of this summer’s World Cup, with an automatic renewal until 2028 if Italy returned to soccer’s biggest stage.
“With pain in my heart, having failed to achieve the target we set ourselves, I am bringing an end to my experience as national team boss,” he told the FIGC website.
“The blue shirt is the most special one that exists in football and for that reason I need to leave it in the hands of a new technical team going into the future.
“I must thank president Gravina and Buffon, and all those I’ve worked with at the federation, for the faith and support they have always given me. It was an honor to lead the national team and I did it with a group of lads who always showed fight and devotion to the shirt. The biggest thank you goes to the fans and to all the Italians who never stopped supporting us, even in these last few months.”
The former AC Milan and Rangers midfielder replaced Luciano Spalletti, who succeeded Euro 2020 winner Roberto Mancini in 2023, just two games into the qualifying campaign.
Having also failed to reach Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, four-time champions Italy are the first former winners to miss out on three consecutive World Cups.
Gravina, 72, had held the highest role within the FIGC since October 2018 and an election to appoint his replacement as president will take place Monday, June 22, in Rome.
“I would like to thank Gattuso once again,” Gravina said. “Because, in addition to being a special person, as a coach he has offered a valuable contribution, managing to bring enthusiasm back to the national team in just a few months.
“He has conveyed great pride in the national team jersey to the players and to the whole country.”
Among those being mentioned to replace Gattuso are Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri.
Mancini coached Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 then failed to get the Azzurri to the next year’s World Cup before bolting to take over Saudi Arabia’s national team. He left that role in October 2024 and is currently coach at Al-Sadd in Qatar.
Inzaghi steered Inter Milan to the Serie A title in 2024 and now manages Saudi club Al Hilal.
Conte coached Italy at the 2016 European Championship and is currently at Napoli.
Allegri is coach at AC Milan.
Italy will play two friendly matches in June but is unlikely to have a new coach by then, given that the election for a new FIGC president won’t take place until June 22.
PA and The Associated Press contributed to this report.