Gattuso Named Italy Coach as Azzurri Look to Revive World Cup Hopes

Former World Cup-winning midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed as the new head coach of the Italian national football team, the country’s football federation announced on Sunday. The move comes in the wake of Italy’s dismal start to the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign and the sacking of former coach Luciano Spalletti.

Gattuso, 47, takes over at a critical moment for the Azzurri, who are already nine points behind group leaders Norway following a heavy 3–0 defeat in Oslo. Despite having played two fewer matches than the Norwegians, fears are mounting that Italy could miss a third consecutive World Cup — a scenario unthinkable for the four-time world champions.

“Gattuso is a symbol of Italian soccer; the blue shirt is like a second skin for him,” said Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina. “His motivation, professionalism, and experience will be fundamental as we look ahead to our upcoming fixtures. We are grateful for the commitment he’s shown in accepting this challenge.”

The federation had initially approached Claudio Ranieri for the role, but the veteran manager declined the offer. Gattuso, who lifted the World Cup as a player in 2006, becomes the man charged with reigniting Italy’s qualification campaign.

His coaching résumé includes spells at AC Milan, Napoli, Valencia, and Marseille. He most recently managed Croatian side Hajduk Split but left the club earlier this month by mutual consent after just one season. His lone major trophy as a coach came with Napoli, winning the Coppa Italia in 2020.

A tenacious midfielder during his playing career, Gattuso made 468 appearances for AC Milan, winning two Serie A titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies. He scored once in 73 international appearances, famously netting a long-range strike against England in a 1–0 victory in 2000.

Italy’s qualifying campaign continues with a home match against Estonia on September 5, marking Gattuso’s debut on the touchline. The Azzurri will face Norway in a potentially decisive final group game on November 16 in Rome. Only the group winner will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The runner-up must navigate a playoff route — the same path that saw Italy eliminated in both 2018 and 2022.

Gattuso will be officially presented to the media at a press conference in Rome on Thursday.