Italy has appointed former midfield star Gennaro Gattuso as the new manager of the men’s national team. The 47-year-old AC Milan legend replaces Luciano Spalletti, who announced his own departure last week following a 3-0 World Cup qualifying defeat by Norway on June 6th.
Gattuso, who made 73 appearances for Italy and was a key member of the 2006 World Cup-winning squad, is now set to lead his country into the 2026 World Cup.
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina praised the appointment, stating that “Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football,” whose “motivations, his professionalism and his experience will be fundamental” for the national team’s future commitments.
The appointment comes at a crucial time for the Azzurri. While they won Euro 2020, they failed to qualify for the tournament last summer and have missed the last two World Cups.
The Italian football federation (FIGC) confirmed that Gattuso will be formally presented to the media on Thursday.
