Former World Cup Winner Gennaro Gattuso Takes the Reins as Italy’s New Coach
In a bid to revive their flagging World Cup qualifying hopes, Italy has turned to former hard-tackling midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, naming him the country’s new coach on Sunday. Gattuso, who lifted the World Cup as a player in 2006, replaces Luciano Spalletti, who was fired last week after a dismal 3-0 loss to Norway in their opening qualifier. The defeat sparked fears that the four-time champion could fail to qualify for a third straight World Cup.
Gattuso’s appointment has been met with enthusiasm from Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina, who praised the new coach’s motivation, professionalism, and experience. "Gattuso is a symbol of Italian soccer, the blue shirt is like a second skin for him," Gravina said. "His willingness and total dedication with which he accepted this challenge are fundamental to best face the national team’s next matches." Gattuso’s experience as a player and coach, including winning two league titles and two Champions League trophies with AC Milan, makes him an ideal candidate to lead the team.
Italy is currently nine points behind Norway in their World Cup qualifying group, although they have played two matches fewer than the group leader. The team’s recent 2-0 win over Moldova, in what was Spalletti’s final match in charge, offers a glimmer of hope. Gattuso’s first match as Italy coach will be at home to Estonia on September 5, and he will be presented at a news conference in Rome on Thursday.
The stakes are high, with only the group winner advancing directly to the 2026 World Cup tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The runner-up will enter playoff brackets to be played next March, a stage where Italy was eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively. Gattuso’s coaching experience, including stints at AC Milan, Napoli, Valencia, and Marseille, will be crucial in navigating these challenges.
As Gattuso takes the reins, he will be expected to draw on his experience as a player and coach to inspire his team and lead them to success. With his first match just around the corner, all eyes will be on the new Italy coach as he begins his mission to revive the country’s World Cup hopes. Will Gattuso be able to turnaround Italy’s fortunes and lead them to qualification? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the journey will be closely watched by soccer fans around the world.
