Gennaro Gattuso Set to Be Appointed as Italy National Team Coach

According to Italian Football Federation (FIGC) head of delegation Gianluigi Buffon, Gennaro Gattuso is set to be appointed as the new head coach of Italy national team — replacing the recently dismissed Luciano Spalletti.

“We have worked and are now waiting for the final details. The president and the whole federation have had busy days, but I think in the end we made the best choice,” Buffon told RAI.

Gattuso — former Italy midfielder with 73 caps and member of the 2006 World Cup winning squad — recently left Croatian club Hajduk Split after leading them to a third-place finish.

FIGC initially approached Claudio Ranieri as their first choice, but the 73-year-old coach declined the offer to focus on his senior advisor role at AS Roma.

In his 12-year coaching career, Gattuso has managed nine different clubs — including AC Milan and Valencia — with his sole trophy being the 2020 Coppa Italia with Napoli. Now the 47-year-old coach faces the task of qualifying Italy for the upcoming World Cup after missing the last two tournaments.