Gennaro Gattuso has left his position as Italy head coach by mutual consent, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirmed on Thursday, bringing an end to a nine-month tenure that failed to secure the Azzurri's return to the World Cup.
The 48-year-old's departure comes three days after Italy suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup qualifying play-off final in Zenica — a result that means the four-time world champions will miss a third consecutive edition of the tournament.
"With pain in my heart, not having achieved the goal we had set ourselves, I consider my experience on the national team bench to be over," Gattuso said in a statement released by the FIGC.
The federation thanked Gattuso "for the dedication and passion" he brought to the role during his short spell in charge.
Gattuso inherited a squad in crisis when he replaced the sacked Luciano Spalletti in June 2025. Italy had already lost their opening qualifier to Norway and had underwhelmed at Euro 2024, where they were knocked out in the Round of 16 by Switzerland as defending champions.
Despite those early setbacks, Gattuso quickly steadied the ship. The former AC Milan and Napoli midfielder orchestrated a six-match winning streak that reignited qualification hopes. However, a second loss to Norway in November 2025 condemned Italy to second place in their group and yet another play-off — a familiar misery for a nation still scarred by elimination at the hands of Sweden in 2017 and North Macedonia in 2022.
That play-off campaign ended in despair in Zenica, where Bosnia held firm through extra time before prevailing on penalties. The defeat triggered a wave of resignations at the top of Italian football: FIGC president Gabriele Gravina stepped down alongside national team delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon.
Gattuso had been appointed on a contract that ran through the 2026 World Cup, with an automatic two-year extension if Italy qualified. Instead, the Azzurri will watch this summer's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico from home — extending an absence that now spans 12 years since their group-stage exit in Brazil in 2014.
"The Azzurri shirt is the most precious asset that exists in soccer, which is why it is right to immediately facilitate future coaching staff decisions," Gattuso said. "It was an honour to be able to lead the national team and do so also with a group of boys who have shown commitment and attachment to the shirt. The biggest thanks go to the fans, to all the Italians who have never failed to show their love and support for the national team in recent months."
With no permanent FIGC president in place — elections are scheduled for June 22 — the search for a successor is unlikely to be resolved quickly. Among the names already being discussed are former Italy boss Roberto Mancini, Antonio Conte, Simone Inzaghi and Massimiliano Allegri.
Sources
- https://apnews.com/article/gattuso-italy-coach-world-cup-170f8e2320eccaa2e628645bbf966085
- https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/23-07-2026/la-serie-a-vota-conte-come-ct-azzurro-per-rinascere-serve-una-garanzia.shtml
