Gennaro Gattuso has stepped down as head coach of the Italy national team following their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The four-time world champions missed out on a third consecutive World Cup appearance after losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuesday’s play-off match.
In a joint statement, the Italian Football Federation confirmed that Gattuso’s contract had been “mutually terminated,” bringing an end to his 10-month tenure in charge.
Speaking after the announcement, Gattuso said: “With a heavy heart, having failed to achieve the goal we set ourselves, I consider my time as coach of the national team to be over. The Azzurri jersey is the most precious asset in football, which is why it’s right to facilitate future technical evaluations right from the start.”
The coach’s resignation comes in the wake of broader leadership changes within Italian football, following the departures of Italy FA president Gabriele Gravina and head of delegation Gianluigi Buffon.
Italy now faces a period of rebuilding and will begin the search for a new manager to restore the national team’s standing ahead of future competitions.
