Gennaro Gattuso has resigned as head coach of Italy national football team following the team’s failure to qualify for the World Cup, marking a third consecutive absence from the tournament.
The Azzurri’s hopes were dashed after a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team in a qualification play-off final in Zenica. The fallout from the loss has shaken Italian football, prompting further changes within the federation.
Gattuso, a 2006 World Cup winner, leaves less than a year after taking charge, having been appointed in June following the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti. His exit comes alongside that of Gabriele Gravina, who stepped down as president of the Italian Football Federation, and general manager Gianluigi Buffon.
Despite a relatively strong record—six wins, one draw, and one loss in eight matches—Gattuso faced heavy criticism. The draw against Bosnia led to the decisive shootout defeat, while a 4-1 loss to Norway at San Siro further dented confidence in his leadership.
His appointment had initially raised questions due to his inconsistent club coaching record, and the World Cup qualification failure ultimately sealed his departure.
