Gattuso Steps Up as Italy's National Coach: A Second Skin for the Azzurri
Italy's Future Hangs in the Balance: Gattuso Tasked with Leading Nation out of Shadows
Italy, a country known for its footballing prowess, has hit a rough patch. The Italian Football Federation (IFF) has called upon Gennaro Gattuso, a 2006 World Cup winner and a symbol of Italian football, to steer the struggling Azzurri back to their former glory in time for the 2026 World Cup.
In the face of intense scrutiny, IFF president Gabriele Gravina declared, "Gattuso is like a second skin to the blue," and former teammate and World Cup winner, Gianluigi Buffon, echoed these sentiments, dubbing Gattuso the "best possible choice."
Following the resignation of Luciano Spalletti after the 2-0 win against Moldova, the Italians missed out on the World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and currently find themselves third in Group I of the qualifiers with a paltry three points, behind Norway and Israel. The direct qualifier spot is reserved for the group winner, leaving the runner-up to battle it out in the playoffs.
Gattuso, renowned for his combative playstyle, will have a daunting challenge ahead. There have been murmurs about his tenure, with the media reporting a one-year deal. Claudio Ranieri, the federation's initial choice, turned down the offer, opening the door for Gattuso. Other potential candidates from the 2006 World Cup-winning squad, such as Fabio Cannavaro and Daniele De Rossi, were also considered.
Buffon explained the Federation's decision to hire a coach from within Italy, stating, "We always start from the same point after the dark moments, thinking about our role and the demands on the players and coaches."
Sources: ntv.de, dpa
- Resilience Embodied
- Upcoming Battles
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The search results do not provide insight into the other coaches considered for the Italy national team position before Gennaro Gattuso's appointment. However, it can be inferred that the choice of Gattuso was an unexpected departure from the norm as he lacks extensive managerial experience at the top level. This potentially indicates that the Italian Football Federation might have been open to more unconventional coaching profiles for the role.
Regarding Claudio Ranieri, there is no specific information in the search results about why he was not chosen for the position. Ranieri, a successful Italian football manager, is notable for guiding Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2016. Yet, the Italian Football Federation's decision-making process and the reasons behind selecting Gattuso over other candidates remain unclear.
Within the ensuing months, Gattuso willaptly address the Azzurri's strategic policies, implementing community andemployment policies geared towards fostering a cohesive teamethos. Despite the naysayers and their pointed criticisms, hisunconventional coaching style promises to breathe new life intothe Italian national team, particularly as they prep for the upcomingsports events, including the 2026 World Cup.
