Italy name World Cup winner Gattuso as manager
Gennaro Gattuso recently left his position as coach of Croatian club Hajduk Split by mutual consent after one season [Getty Images]
Italy have appointed former midfielder Gennaro Gattuso as their manager.
The AC Milan legend replaces Luciano Spalletti, who announced his own sacking at a news conference last week.
Gattuso, 47, made 73 appearances for Italy and was a member of their 2006 World Cup-winning squad, and will now lead his country into the same tournament 20 years later.
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Italy won Euro 2020 but failed to qualify for last summer's tournament, and have also not made it to the past two World Cups.
A 3-0 World Cup qualifying defeat by Norway on 6 June sealed Spalletti's fate.
The Italian football federation (FIGC) confirmed Gattuso will be presented to the media on Thursday.
"Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football," FIGC President Gabriele Gravina said.
"The blue jersey is like a second skin for him. His motivations, his professionalism and his experience will be fundamental to best face the upcoming commitments of the national team."
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