Gattuso Steps Down As Italy’s Coach Following World Cup Playoff Exit
Gattuso departs as Italy coach following the failure to qualify for the World Cup, marking the Azzurri’s absence from the tournament for three consecutive editions.
Manager Gennaro Gattuso has reached a mutual agreement to end his contract with the Italy national football team after their unsuccessful bid to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup.
Italy’s aspirations of qualifying for the global tournament were extinguished following a 4-1 defeat in the penalty shootout against the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team during Tuesday’s play-off.
Gattuso, having earned 73 caps for Italy throughout his playing career, was appointed in June as the successor to Luciano Spalletti and achieved six wins in eight matches during his time in charge.
Following the defeat, a visibly emotional Gattuso expressed his apologies to the fans and acknowledged that the outcome was hard to come to terms with.
“With a heavy heart, and having not reached the goal we aimed for, I believe my time as coach of the national team has come to an end,” he stated.
“The Azzurri jersey stands as the pinnacle of football, which is why it’s essential to support future technical assessments from the very beginning.”
He characterized his role in leading the national team as an honor, even in light of the unsatisfactory result.
“Leading the national team has been a privilege, and I am grateful to have done so alongside a group of players who have demonstrated unwavering commitment and dedication to the jersey,” Gattuso remarked.
The development occurs against a backdrop of significant turmoil in the leadership of Italian football, as Gabriele Gravina steps down from his position as president of the Italian Football Federation.
Gianluigi Buffon, the former Italy goalkeeper, has also resigned from his position as head of delegation, sharing his announcement through social media.
Italy, the champions of the World Cup on four occasions, last participated in the tournament in 2014 and have since missed three consecutive editions, including the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.
No prior World Cup-winning country has experienced a comparable streak of three consecutive qualification failures, signifying a historic low for the Azzurri.
