Gennaro Gattuso is poised to become the new manager of the Italian national team, replacing Luciano Spalletti. Gianluigi Buffon, head of delegation with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), confirmed the impending appointment, stating that the final details are being worked out. The move comes after Spalletti's dismissal, which followed a mixed bag of results, including a recent defeat to Norway in World Cup qualifying.
Gattuso, a former legendary midfielder for Italy, brings a wealth of experience and a fiery passion to the national team. Known for his combative style and tactical versatility, he is expected to inject a new spirit into the Azzurri. His managerial career includes stints at clubs like AC Milan, Napoli, Valencia and Marseille. Most recently, he left Croatian club Hajduk Split by mutual consent after securing a third-place finish in the domestic league.
Buffon expressed confidence in the selection, stating that the federation made the "best possible decision" after a thorough process. He emphasized the need to avoid "embarrassing performances" and highlighted the importance of making "a few minor adjustments" to improve the team's overall performance. The immediate goal for Gattuso is to guide Italy back to the World Cup in 2026 after they failed to qualify for the most recent edition. Italy's next matches are World Cup qualifiers against Estonia on September 5th and Israel on September 8th, which will be Gattuso's first official games in charge.
Several other prominent names were considered for the role, including Claudio Ranieri, Stefano Pioli, Daniele De Rossi, and Fabio Cannavaro. Ranieri, however, had already committed to a role as a special advisor at Roma and had announced his retirement from coaching. Pioli, on the other hand, was in advanced talks to join Fiorentina. This paved the way for Gattuso, who emerged as the frontrunner.
Gattuso's tactical preferences often lean towards a 4-3-3 formation, although he has also utilized 3-4-3 and 4-2-3-1 setups, showcasing his adaptability. His contract with Hajduk Split was supposed to keep him at the club until June 30, 2026, but he has since departed to take on this new role with the Italian national team.
