Italian football is experiencing drama after the Squadra Azzurra missed out on the third consecutive edition of the World Cup. If nothing else happened in Romania after the national team lost the tie with Turkey – only the coach Mircea Lucescu left, as he had announced for some time -, there is a lot of commotion in the peninsula.
The president of the federation, Gabriele Gravina, was the first to resign, followed a few hours later by the general manager of the national team, the great Gigi Buffon. Today, another departure was officially announced: coach Gennaro Gattuso resigned, three days after failing to qualify the Squadra Azzurra for the 2026 World Cup.
Bosnia shattered Italy’s dream
Gattuso, without much experience at the top level, was appointed in charge of the Italian national team in June 2025 to replace Luciano Spalletti, with the aim of qualifying the team for its first World Cup since 2014. However, Italy lost in the final of the European play-offs to Bosnia-Herzegovina (1-1 after extra time, 1-4 on penalties).
“With a heavy heart, having failed to achieve the goal we set for ourselves, I consider my time as coach of the national team to be over,” Gattuso said, according to the Italian federation’s official website. “The Azzurri shirt is the most precious asset in football, which is why it is right to facilitate future technical evaluations from the start. I would like to thank the president Gabriele Gravina and Gianluigi Buffon, as well as the entire staff of the Federation, for the trust and support they have always shown me.
Gattuso, 6 wins in 8 games
It has been an honor to lead the national team and to do so alongside a group of players who have shown commitment and dedication to the shirt. But the biggest thanks go to the fans, to all the Italians who have never stopped showing their love and support for the national team in these months. Always with the Azzurri in my heart.”
As a player, Gattuso had 73 caps for Italy, with whom he was world champion in 2006. As a coach, he achieved six victories in eight matches, notes the BBC. After the Bosnia-Herzegovina match, Gennaro Gattuso apologized for missing out on qualifying for this summer’s World Cup.
