The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirmed in an official statement that national team coach Gennaro Gattuso has mutually terminated his contract following Italy’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoffs.
Gattuso took over from Luciano Spalletti in June 2025 and made his debut as the new coach in September 2025 with a resounding 5-0 victory over Estonia.
Gattuso leaves Italy by mutual consent
The statement, released on Friday, said that Gattuso and the FIGC reached an agreement to amicably end their relationship.
The FIGC thanked Gattuso and his coaching staff for their “commitment and passion” over the past nine months and wished them “all the best in their future careers.”
Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup finals for the third consecutive time last Tuesday night, after losing the playoff final to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties.
The Italian sporting scene also witnessed mass resignations, including those of the federation president, Gabriele Gravina, and the head of the national team delegation, Gianluigi Buffon, following the bitter elimination.
Gattuso comments on his departure from the Italian national team
In a farewell message, Gattuso said: “With a heavy heart, and after failing to achieve the goal we set for ourselves, I consider my experience as coach of the national team to be over.”
He added, “The national team jersey is the most precious thing in football, and for this reason, it is right to facilitate future technical evaluations immediately.”
He continued, “I would like to thank President Gabriele Gravina, Gianluigi Buffon, and all the federation staff for the trust and support they have always given me.”
“It was an honor to lead the national team and a group of players who showed commitment and dedication to this jersey,” he concluded. “But my greatest thanks go to the fans, to all Italians who haven’t stopped showing their love and support for the team over the past months. The blue will always be in my heart.”
Gattuso’s Career with the Italian National Team as Coach
Gattuso’s tenure with the Italian national team lasted approximately one year, during which he managed only eight matches, all in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Thanks to Gattuso, Italy finished second behind Norway in the main qualifying round, thus qualifying for the intercontinental play-offs.
The Azzurri defeated Northern Ireland 2-0 in Atalanta before suffering a crushing defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final, a match in which the Azzurri played with ten men for the entire second half after Alessandro Bastoni’s early red card.
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In total, Gattuso won six matches with Italy and lost two: a heavy 4-1 defeat to Norway and a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia.
It’s worth noting that Gianluigi Buffon was behind Gattuso’s appointment, insisting that the job should be given to an Italian coach who had previously played for the national team and understood the significance of the jersey, in order to instill a fighting spirit in the players and hopefully lead them back to the World Cup.
Who will succeed Gattuso as Italy’s coach?
The Italian national team is scheduled to play two friendly matches in June, but it’s unlikely a new coach will be appointed by then, as the election of a new president for the Italian Football Federation won’t take place before June.
Three main names are being considered for the Italian national team coaching position: Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, and Roberto Mancini.
Conte is likely to leave Napoli at the end of the current season, making him the most logical choice, while Mancini is under contract with Qatari club Al Sadd. Allegri remains the most unlikely option, given that his contract with Milan runs until the summer of 2027 and there are no signs of an early departure.
It’s worth noting that the Italian national team dreams of appointing Pep Guardiola as their coach should the Spaniard leave Manchester City, especially since the tactician has previously stated that his next coaching role after the English club would most likely be with a national team.
