Gennaro Gattuso Set To Become Italy's New Head Coach After Buffon's Announcement

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Gennaro Gattuso is set to become Italy's new head coach, succeeding Luciano Spalletti. Gianluigi Buffon, now leading a delegation for the Italian football federation, confirmed Gattuso's appointment pending final details. Spalletti announced his departure last Sunday before Italy's World Cup qualifying victory over Moldova.

Spalletti's exit followed a 3-0 loss to Norway in their first 2026 World Cup qualifier. Italy struggled in that match, failing to pose any significant threat. Appointed in August 2023 as Roberto Mancini's successor, Spalletti had a challenging tenure. His team exited Euro 2024 in the last 16 after barely advancing from the group stage.

Gattuso, who was part of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning squad, will now aim to guide Italy back to prominence on the global stage. Buffon told RAI that they are awaiting final confirmations but believe Gattuso is the right choice. "The president and the whole federation have had some busy days, but I think that in the end we made the best choice," Buffon stated.

Gattuso recently parted ways with Hajduk Split by mutual agreement after finishing third in Croatia’s top league during his only season there. His upcoming challenge will be steering Italy through World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Israel this September.

Italy has not qualified for the last two World Cups held in Russia and Qatar. They are currently nine points behind Norway in Group I of the qualifiers but have played two fewer matches. Gattuso’s leadership will be crucial as he attempts to close this gap and secure a spot for Italy in the upcoming tournament.

During his brief stint with Italy, Spalletti managed only 24 games, winning half of them while drawing and losing six each. Despite these challenges, Gattuso's appointment brings hope for a fresh start and renewed success for Italian football on the international stage.

The Italian football community eagerly anticipates how Gattuso will shape the team's future and address past shortcomings. With his experience as both a player and coach, many are optimistic about his potential impact on Italy’s performance moving forward.