Gennaro Gattuso was today described as a “symbol of Italian football” after being named the Azzurri’s new coach.
Gattuso succeeds Luciano Spalletti, who was effectively dismissed after the 3-0 defeat to Norway on June 6 but stayed on to oversee the 2-0 win over Moldova on Monday.
The former Italy international won 73 caps for his country and was renowned as a tough-tackling midfielder.
Gennaro Gattuso is the new First Team Head Coach 🇮🇹
Welcome back, Rino 👊#Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/H6oQZWJcca— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) June 15, 2025
Gabriele Gravina, the president of the Italian Football Association (FIGC), said: “Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football, the shirt is like his second skin.
“His motivations, professionalism and experience will be fundamental in taking on the next challenges of the National Team. He knows the importance of our objectives and I thank him for his readiness and dedication in accepting this challenge. He shares the FIGC’s project of the development of our football, in which the Azzurri shirt is a central part.”
Gattuso second choice after Ranieri snub
The FIGC turned to Gattuso after failing in a bid to appoint Claudio Ranieri, who opted instead to remain in a senior advisor role at Roma.
The 47-year-old had a wonderful playing career but has not found it easy to replicate that success as a head coach.
He started out at Swiss side Sion but did not last long, starting a pattern that continued at Palermo, OFI Crete and Pisa.
Gattuso went back to AC Milan, where he starred as a player, to coach their Under-19s but was promoted to first-team coach following the sacking of Vincenzo Montella in November 2017.
Napoli trophy
Sixth- and fifth-place finishes saw him sacked in May 2019 and six months later he was named Napoli boss. It was in Naples that he claimed the only silverware of his managerial career – the 2020 Coppa Italia – but his 18-month tenure ended in May 2021.
An aborted spell at Fiorentina preceded diappointing stints at both Valencia and Marseille, leading him to Hajduk Split, where he quit after one season in charge.
His CV appears to suggest this is a risk by the FIGC just a year out from the World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Qualifying has got off to a mixed start and their next two games – against Estonia and Italy – are already shaping up to be key fixtures in Group I.
