Key Takeaways:
- Gennaro Gattuso mutually ended his contract with the FIGC on Friday, following Italy’s World Cup play-off loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday night
- Italy failed to secure World Cup qualification for the third consecutive cycle, exiting on penalties in the play-off final
- FIGC President Gabriele Gravina and Delegation Chief Gigi Buffon both resigned after the elimination
Leadership Changes After World Cup Disappointment
Gennaro Gattuso has stepped down as head coach of Italy’s national football team, bringing his tenure to a premature end after just nine months in charge. The decision, confirmed in an official statement from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Friday, comes in the wake of Italy’s dramatic exit from the World Cup play-offs on Tuesday night. In that decisive fixture, Italy suffered defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties, marking their third consecutive failure to qualify for the tournament.
Gennaro Gattuso's time in charge of Italy has come to an end 🇮🇹👋
The Italian Football Federation said there was a mutual agreement to terminate his contract as the national team's manager. pic.twitter.com/90LxqOzHRa
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 3, 2026
Gattuso took over the managerial role from Luciano Spalletti in June 2025, making an emphatic start with a 5-0 victory against Estonia in his debut as Italy coach in September 2025. However, the failure to reach football’s grandest stage has prompted significant changes within Italian football leadership. Both FIGC President Gabriele Gravina and Delegation Chief Gigi Buffon also offered their resignations following the disappointing result.
FIGC’s Statement and Upcoming Fixtures
In their announcement, the FIGC expressed gratitude to Gattuso and his staff for their “commitment and passion” over the past nine months and extended best wishes for their future careers. Despite the upcoming schedule of two international friendlies in June, the process of appointing a new head coach may be delayed until a new FIGC President is elected in June 2022.
Official Reactions
The FIGC acknowledged the dedication shown by Gattuso and his coaching team during their time with the national side: “commitment and passion” were their hallmarks, and the federation publicly wished them “the best for the continuation of their careers.”
The outgoing manager addressed his departure by stating: “With a heavy heart, having failed to achieve the objective we set ourselves, I consider my experience as head of the National team to be over,” Gattuso said.
“The Azurri shirt is the most precious thing in football, and for this reason, it is right to facilitate future technical evaluations right away.
“I would like to thank President Gabriele Gravina, Gianluigi Buffon, and, with them, all the Federation staff, for the trust and support they have always given me. It has been an honour to lead the National team and to do so with a group of players who have shown commitment and attachment to this shirt. But my greatest thanks go to the fans, to all Italians who in recent months have never failed to show their love and support for the National Team. Always with the blue in my heart.”
