Gattuso Resigns As Italy Coach After World Cup Flop

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) AFP

Rome: Gennaro Gattuso quit as Italy coach on Friday, as the Azzurri’s failure to reach a third straight World Cup continued to send shockwaves through Italian football.

A World Cup winner in 2006, Gattuso leaves after less than a year in charge of Italy, a team which has fallen far behind historic rivals like France and Spain in the last two decades.

Defeat on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuesday’s qualification play-off final ended up costing Gattuso his job, as the man who hired him also stepped down as president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

“With a heavy heart, and having fallen short of the goal we set ourselves, I feel my time as head coach of the national team has come to an end,” Gattuso said in a statement.

"The Azzurri shirt is the most precious thing in football, and for that reason it’s only right to make way immediately for the federation’s future decisions.

“It has been an honour to lead the national team, especially with a group of players who have shown such commitment and dedication.”

Gabriele Gravina had asked Gattuso to stay on immediately after elimination in Zenica but his departure, and that of national team general manager Gianluigi Buffon, paved the way for the 48-year-old’s exit after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

Gattuso took charge of Italy in June last year following the sacking of Luciano Spalletti, himself a victim of a dismal title defence at Euro 2024 and a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Erling Haaland’s Norway in their first World Cup qualifier.

His record is impressive on paper, with six wins, one defeat and one draw in eight matches with 22 goals scored and 10 conceded.

But that draw was the 1-1 with Bosnia which preceded a penalty shoot-out in which Italy missed twice, while the loss was another humiliating one to Norway, this time 4-1 at the San Siro.

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