The Italian Football Federation today appointed Gennaro Gattuso as the new national team coach.
Gattuso replaced Luciano Spalletti on the bench, who left the team after a poor start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Italian Football Federation said that Gattuso, who won the 2006 World Cup with the national team, is a "symbol of Italian football" and that his professionalism and experience will be key to the challenges ahead.
The federation did not specify how many years the 47-year-old coach signed the contract for.
"The Azzurri jersey is like a second skin to him," said Federation president Gabriele Gravina.
Gattuso once played 73 games and scored a goal for the Italian national team.
His task will be to lead the team to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, after Italy missed the previous two World Cups.
Italy began the qualifiers with a defeat to Norway (3:0) in Oslo, and defeated Moldova (2:0) on Monday, after which Spalletti left the national team.
Gattuso left Hajduk Split at the end of the season, a year before his contract expired.
Among others, he has coached Pisa, Milan, Napoli, Valencia, and Olympique de Marseille.
He was not the Federation's first choice, as the opportunity to take over the national team was previously rejected by Claudio Ranieri and Stefano Pioli.
Italy will continue their qualifying campaign on September 5 against Estonia, and three days later they will play against Israel.
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