The Italian Football Association (FIGC) has officially appointed Gennaro Gattuso, the 2006 World Cup champion, to lead the national team as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. This decision comes after the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti following a 3-0 defeat in Italy’s opening match of the qualifiers and a disappointing performance in the Euro 2024, where Italy was eliminated in the round of 16. Gattuso is set to be introduced as the new head coach on June 19 in Rome, with his debut matches scheduled for September against Estonia and Israel.

“Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football,” said Gabriele Gravina, President of FIGC. “His motivation, professionalism, and experience will be crucial for tackling the upcoming challenges of the national team. I thank him for his dedication to accepting this challenge…”

Gattuso, renowned for his tenure at clubs such as Napoli and AC Milan, now steps forward to guide a team hoping for redemption after some tumultuous matches, including losses to Norway and Switzerland. The federation initially considered former AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri, but he declined the opportunity, leading to Gattuso’s selection as the potential answer to Italy’s recent woes.