Gennaro Gattuso appointed Italy s new football coach

ROME – Gennaro Gattuso was named Italy’s new football coach on June 15 and will be tasked with helping the Azzurri qualify for the 2026 World Cup, after replacing the sacked Luciano Spalletti.

The 47-year-old, who was part of the 2006 World Cup-winning side and won 73 caps for the national team as a player, will be presented to the media on June 19.

“Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football,” said Italian football federation president (FIGC) Gabriele Gravina.

“The blue shirt is like a second skin for him. His motivation, his professionalism and his experience will be essential.

“(He is) 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.”

Four-time champions Italy have failed to qualify for the past two World Cups.

They started their bid to reach next year’s tournament in North America with a 3-0 defeat by hosts Norway on June 6, following which Spalletti announced his own dismissal.

That came with the 66-year-old being in the job for less than two years and he took charge for the final time in the 2-0 win over Moldova on June 9.

Claudio Ranieri had been the FIGC’s first choice to replace Spalletti, but the 73-year-old turned down the offer to focus on his senior adviser role at AS Roma.

Gattuso recently left Croatian club Hajduk Split by mutual consent, after a third-place finish in the country’s top flight.

He began his managerial career as player-coach at Swiss club Sion in 2013 when he finished his playing days after 13 seasons with AC Milan.

But he was fired after taking only 10 points from 11 league games in charge.

His only trophy as manager came at Napoli, lifting the Coppa Italia in 2020,