Former World Cup winner Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed the new manager of the Italian national football team, replacing Luciano Spalletti.
The 47-year-old AC Milan legend, who played 73 times for Italy and was part of their 2006 World Cup-winning squad, will now lead his country into the same tournament 20 years later.
Gattuso’s appointment follows Italy’s failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup, a decision sealed by a 3-0 defeat to Norway on June 6. Despite winning Euro 2020, Italy has missed the last two World Cups.
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina welcomed Gattuso, stating, “Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football… His motivations, his professionalism and his experience will be fundamental.”
Gattuso, who recently left Hajduk Split, has managed ten teams in twelve years since retiring from playing in 2013. He will be officially presented to the media on Thursday.
