Italy set to appoint Gennaro Gattuso as manager, Gianluigi Buffon confirms
Italy are set to appoint former midfield stalwart Gennaro Gattuso as the national team's new manager, replacing Luciano Spalletti, who was dismissed following a dismal start to the World Cup qualifying campaign. The confirmation came from Gianluigi Buffon, head of delegation with the Italian football federation (FIGC), on Saturday."We have worked, we are now waiting for the final details," Buffon told state broadcaster RAI during an appearance at the Under-21 European Championship. "The president and the whole federation have had some busy days but I think that in the end we made the best choice."advertisementSpalletti's tenure, which lasted less than two years, ended with a 2-0 win over Moldova - his final match in charge - just one day after he effectively confirmed his departure. That came on the heels of a 3-0 defeat in Norway in Italy's opening World Cup qualifier, a result that sealed his fate.
Gattuso, 47, earned 73 caps for Italy and was part of the 2006 World Cup-winning side. He most recently managed Hajduk Split in Croatia, parting ways with the club by mutual consent after guiding them to third place in the domestic league.While Claudio Ranieri had initially been the FIGC's preferred candidate, the veteran coach turned down the offer, opting instead to focus on his role as senior advisor at AS Roma.Gattuso's managerial career began in 2013 at Swiss side Sion, where he served briefly as player-coach. He has since had spells at a string of clubs including AC Milan, Napoli, Valencia, and most recently a short stint at Olympique de Marseille. His only managerial silverware came at Napoli, lifting the Coppa Italia in 2020.advertisementIn 2021, Fiorentina announced Gattuso as their new manager, only to terminate the agreement 22 days later, reportedly due to disputes over transfer policy.Now entrusted with reviving Italy's World Cup hopes after missing the last two tournaments, Gattuso inherits a side reeling from their loss in Oslo and facing mounting pressure to turn things around swiftly.
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