Italy has named former World Cup winner Gennaro Gattuso as their new head coach after sacking Luciano Spalletti. With the 2026 World Cup ahead, Gattuso’s challenge is to lead Italy back to success after missing two tournaments in a row.
Gattuso Becomes Italy’s New National Team Coach
Italy, a four-time World Cup winner, failed to qualify for the last two tournaments. Now, they are focused on making a strong comeback in the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. To prepare early, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has made a big decision hiring a new coach.
Gennaro Gattuso Takes Charge
Gennaro Gattuso, a former Italian midfielder, has been named the new coach of the national team. He replaces Luciano Spalletti, who was recently sacked after a 3-0 loss to Norway in a World Cup qualifier. The news was confirmed by Italy’s football legend Gianluigi Buffon.
“We’ve finished the work. Now it’s just about a few final details. The president and the federation worked hard, and I think we made the best decision,” Buffon said during an interview at the Under-21 European Championship.
Other Names Rejected the Job
Before choosing Gattuso, FIGC contacted other well-known Italian coaches. Claudio Ranieri was offered the job but turned it down. He decided to continue working as an advisor at AS Roma. Another option, Stefano Pioli, chose to join Fiorentina instead of coaching the national team.
That left the door open for Gattuso, who has coached teams like AC Milan, Napoli, Valencia, and Marseille. Most recently, he managed Hajduk Split in Croatia but left the club by mutual agreement.
Gattuso’s Coaching Experience and Challenges
Gattuso played 73 times for Italy and was part of the team that won the 2006 World Cup. He started his coaching career in 2013 with Swiss club Sion. Since then, he has coached nine different clubs. His biggest success as a coach came in 2020 when he helped Napoli win the Coppa Italia.
Now, at 47 years old, Gattuso faces his biggest challenge — bringing Italy back to the World Cup. Italy’s campaign for 2026 has already started poorly, with a heavy 3-0 defeat to Norway. Gattuso must now rebuild the team and guide them through the qualifiers.
With new leadership and fresh motivation, Italy hopes to return to the world stage and fight for glory once again.
