Italy are set to appoint former midfielder Gennaro Gattuso as their new manager, replacing the recently sacked Luciano Spalletti, according to Gianluigi Buffon, head of delegation at the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
Speaking to Italy’s state broadcaster RAI at the Under-21 European Championship, Buffon confirmed: “We have worked, and we are now waiting for the final details. The president and the whole federation have had some busy days, but I think in the end we made the best choice.”
Spalletti departs after less than two years in charge, overseeing his final match in a 2-0 win over Moldova. His exit came just one day after announcing his own dismissal, which followed Italy’s 3-0 defeat to Norway in their opening World Cup qualifier.
Gattuso, who earned 73 caps for Italy and was part of the 2006 World Cup-winning squad, most recently managed Croatian side Hajduk Split, leaving the club by mutual consent after guiding them to third place in the league.
Claudio Ranieri had initially been the FIGC’s preferred candidate, but the 73-year-old declined the role to continue his work as a senior advisor at AS Roma.
Gattuso began his coaching career as player-manager at Swiss side Sion in 2013, following 13 seasons as a player with AC Milan. However, his time at Sion was brief, winning only two of his ten league matches.
In his 12-year managerial career, Gattuso has coached nine clubs, including stints at AC Milan, Valencia, and a brief five-month tenure at Olympique de Marseille. His only major silverware came at Napoli, where he lifted the Coppa Italia in 2020.
Gattuso briefly agreed to manage Fiorentina in 2021 but parted ways just 22 days later, reportedly due to disagreements over transfer policy.
Now 47, Gattuso faces the challenging task of leading Italy to the 2026 World Cup after they failed to qualify for the last two tournaments. His tenure begins under pressure following the damaging loss to Norway in Oslo.
