Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed as the head coach of the Italy national team coach, the country’s football federation (FIGC) announced on Sunday.
Former international midfielder Gattuso replaces Luciano Spalletti, who was sacked last week following a humiliating 3-0 defeat by Norway in a World Cup qualifier.
The former AC Milan and Napoli manager will be formally introduced as Italy coach on Thursday in Rome.
“Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football – the blue jersey is like a second skin for him. His motivations, his professionalism and his experience will be fundamental to best face the upcoming commitments of the National Team,” FIGC President Gabriele Gravina said in a statement.
“Aware of the importance of the objective we want to achieve, I thank him for the availability and total dedication with which he has received this challenge, sharing the FIGC project for the overall development of our football, in which the blue jersey plays a strategic central role.”
Spalletti was fired after a spell of under two years, overseeing his final match, a 2-0 victory against Moldova, just a day after revealing he had been dismissed following the heavy defeat by Norway in their opening 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Gattuso, who won the Coppa Italia with Napoli in 2020, is tasked with getting four-time world champions Italy to next year’s World Cup, after they missed out on the last two editions of the tournament.
According to reports, the 47-year-old Gattuso has been given a one-year contract, including the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Gattuso made 73 appearances for Italy and was a member of the 2006 World Cup-winning squad. He recently left Croatian club Hajduk Split by mutual consent, after a third-placed finish in the country’s top flight.
Gattuso began his coaching career as player-coach at Swiss club Sion in 2013 where he finished his playing days after 13 seasons with Milan but was fired after winning two of his 10 league games in charge.
Over a 12-year coaching career, Gattuso has handled nine clubs, including Milan, Spanish side Valencia, and a brief stint at Ligue 1’s Olympique de Marseille.
