Gennaro Gattuso’s time as Italy manager has come to an end, as announced by the country’s football federation (FIGC) after the national team’s failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Italy suffered a defeat in Tuesday’s playoff final in Bosnia, resulting in the four-time champions missing out on the World Cup for the third consecutive time.
Gattuso’s departure coincided with the resignation of FIGC President Gabriele Gravina and national team delegation head Gianluigi Buffon stepping down from his role a day earlier.
In a statement, Gattuso expressed his disappointment at not achieving their goal and announced his decision to step down as the national team manager.
Figuring it was time for future technical evaluations, Gattuso stated, “The Azzurri shirt is the most precious asset in football, which is why it is right to facilitate future technical assessments with immediate effect.”
He thanked the team for their commitment and loyalty, while the FIGC acknowledged Gattuso’s work and announced the termination of his contract by mutual agreement.
Gattuso was appointed on a one-year contract in June, taking over from Luciano Spalletti after Italy’s 3-0 loss to Norway. Despite winning their next five group games, Italy had to settle for a World Cup playoff spot, which they ultimately faltered in Bosnia.
Following the defeat, Gattuso avoided discussing his future, but with Gravina’s resignation, his departure became inevitable.
