Gennaro Gattuso is expected to step down from his role as Italy head coach, after two key figures in their football association resigned following their failure to qualify for a third straight World Cup.
Gattuso’s side were beaten 4-1 in penalty shoot-out by Bosnia and Herzegovina in a play-off on Tuesday night.
It meant four-time World Cup winners Italy became the first nation to have lifted the trophy to fail to make three straight editions of the finals, having also missed Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
The fall-out has already seen the resignation of the head of Italy’s football association (FIGC) Gabriele Gravina and legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who was working as the head of their delegation.
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.
Reports in Italy suggest Gattuso is expected to take a few days to decide his future, but the expectation is he will follow Gravina and Buffon in leaving his post.
Gennaro Gattuso is expected to step down from his role as Italy head coach
Italy failed to qualify for a third straight World Cup after losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Gattuso is expected to follow delegation head Gianluigi Buffon, left, and Italian football federation president Gabriele Gravina in resigning from their roles
There are suggestions Gattuso could yet remain to take charge of friendlies in June, providing time for a successor to be appointed.
Corriere Dello Sport report that two contenders have already emerged as favourites to succeed Gattuso in former Italy bosses Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte.
Mancini took charge of Italy previously after they failed to reach the 2018 World Cup under Gian Piero Ventura.
The former Man City boss memorably led Italy to Euro 2020 glory as part of a 37-match unbeaten run. He was, however, in charge when Italy failed to reach the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup after losing a play-off to North Macedonia.
Mancini stunningly resigned ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, later taking charge of the Saudi Arabian national team.
The FIGC took legal action over Mancini’s departure, but the case was later resolved and Gravina’s exit has reportedly removed an obstacle of a possible return.
Mancini, who is currently Al-Sadd manager in Qatar, is said to be favoured by one of the contenders to become FIGC president Giovanni Malago, who oversaw the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Conte had previously coached Italy between 2014 and 2016, with his departure to become Chelsea boss confirmed prior to Euro 2016.
Roberto Mancini, who led Italy to Euro 2020 glory, is seen as an early contender to succeed Gattuso
Antonio Conte, who led an underwhelming squad to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals, is viewed as another leading contender for the role
He was credited with leading one of Italy’s weakest squads to the quarter-finals of the tournament, beating defending champions Spain in the last-16 before falling to world champions Germany after extra time in the last eight.
Conte is currently contracted to reigning Italian champions Napoli.
AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri and Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho have been among those also touted in the Italian press, while Man City manager Pep Guardiola is thought to be a dream, but unlikely candidate.
In a statement, the FIGC said a vote to elect a new president will be held on June 22 following Gravina’s resignation.
Buffon swiftly confirmed his resignation, 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.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, right, defended Gravina over Italy’s failure to qualify as he warned they could lose Euro 2032 co-hosting rights over their infrastructure
‘It’s right to leave those who come after me the freedom to choose the person they deem best to fill my role.’
Amid Italy’s crisis, they were dealt a warning from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin that they could be stripped of the right to co-host Euro 2032 with Turkey due to the condition 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.’
