Gennaro Gattuso

Gennaro Gattuso was appointed head coach of the Italian national team in August 2025, tasked with ending a historic qualification drought. His tenure ended in humiliation as Italy were eliminated by Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties, missing the third consecutive World Cup and becoming the first former champion to achieve that unwanted record. Reports revealed he had held fewer than 15 training sessions with his squad across ten months, raising immediate questions about preparation and his suitability for the role.

Gattuso built his reputation as a ferociously combative midfielder at AC Milan, winning two Serie A titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies, as well as the 2006 FIFA World Cup with Italy. After retiring he moved into management, coaching Napoli, Fiorentina, Valencia and Marseille with mixed results, rarely staying beyond a single season at any club. His appointment as Azzurri manager was considered a gamble given his inconsistent club record, though his playing pedigree with the national team lent him some political capital inside Italian football.

The elimination has opened a full crisis in Italian football governance. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi publicly demanded FIGC president Gabriele Gravina resign, while Senator Claudio Lotito filed a formal Senate petition for his removal. Gattuso's position is untenable, with his minimal training record cited as the central failure of a chaotic campaign. Italy now faces a structural reckoning with its youth development pipeline and national team administration.