Italy head coach Gennaro Gattuso has left the national team by mutual consent after the Azzurri failed to qualify for their third World Cup in a row this week.
The former AC Milan star had been on the brink in the wake of the disappointment, which has had a seismic impact on Italy’s internal football hierarchy.
Following defeat on penalties to Bosnia in their play-off final on Tuesday evening, the head of Italy’s football association (FIGC) Gabriele Gravina resigned, with legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon – who was head of Italy’s delegation – also stepping down.
As per Sky Sport Italia, Gattuso has now agreed to leave with the federation’s approval, with an official announcement expected in the coming hours.
Among the names floated amid speculation over his inevitable departure were those of Napoli boss Antonio Conte and fellow former Italy head coach Roberto Mancini.
Gravina had requested Gattuso stay on as manager just hours before resigning from his post at an emergency meeting held at the FIGC’s headquarters in Rome.
Gennaro Gattuso has joined fellow key members of Italy’s football federation Gianluigi Buffon and Gabriele Gravina (left and right) to quit the national team set-up
Instead, Italy will look for new leadership ahead of the next round of friendlies in June.
Both Conte and Mancini have previously held the position, with Conte’s run ending after two years with his 2016 move to manage Chelsea.
Mancini took charge of Italy previously after they failed to reach the 2018 World Cup under Gian Piero Ventura.
The former Manchester City boss memorably led Italy to Euro 2020 glory as part of a 37-match unbeaten run – but later failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after losing their play-off tie against North Macedonia.
Mancini then stunningly resigned ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign before taking charge of the Saudi Arabia national team.
The veteran manager, who is currently in charge at Qatar club Al-Sadd, is said to be favoured by Giovanni Malago, one of the contenders to become FIGC president.
Malago previously oversaw the success of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The 2020 European champions will now miss out on their third consecutive World Cup finals
Buffon swiftly confirmed his resignation earlier this week, with the 2006 World Cup-winning goalkeeper saying it was ‘an act of responsibility’.
‘Resigning a minute after the end of the match against Bosnia was an urgent act, one that came from deep within me. As spontaneous as the tears and the ache in my heart that I know I share with all of you,’ Buffon wrote on Instagram.
‘I was asked to wait until everyone had the time to reflect.
‘Now that President Gravina has chosen to step back, I feel free to do what I feel is a responsible act, because, despite my sincere belief that I have built so much in terms of team spirit and team spirit with Rino Gattuso and all my collaborators, in the very short time available to the national team, the main objective was to bring Italy back to the World Cup. And we didn’t succeed.
‘It’s right to leave those who come after me the freedom to choose the person they deem best to fill my role.’
Amid the internal tumult, Italy also came under recent fire from UEFA, with president Aleksander Ceferin suggesting that the nation could be stripped of their right to co-host Euro 2032 with Turkey due to the conditions of their stadiums.
‘Euro 2032 is scheduled and will take place. I hope the infrastructure will be ready,’ Ceferin told Gazzetta dello Sport, while defending his UEFA vice-president Gravina.
‘Otherwise, the tournament will not be played in Italy.
‘Perhaps it is Italian politicians who should be asking themselves why Italy has some of the worst football infrastructure in Europe.’
