Gennaro Gattuso resigned as Italy's national football team coach following the team's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking Italy's third consecutive absence from the tournament, according to La Jornada and The Guardian. His departure came by mutual agreement three days after Italy lost the playoff final to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Alongside Gattuso, other key figures including Italy's football federation president Gabriele Gravina and team delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon also stepped down, as reported by Fox Sports and Lopez Doriga Digital. The leadership changes signal a significant shakeup in Italian football’s top ranks after the team’s disappointing World Cup qualification campaign.
Gattuso had taken over the national team in June 2025 with the primary aim of securing Italy’s spot in the 2026 World Cup, but the unexpected early exit prompted his resignation after just nine months in charge. The Italian Football Federation expressed gratitude for his dedication during his brief tenure, La Jornada notes.
As Italy looks to rebuild, speculation is growing around potential replacements, with former coach Antonio Conte mentioned as a candidate to lead the team into the UEFA Nations League, according to Fox Sports. The federation now faces the challenge of restoring stability and competitiveness within both the technical staff and administration.
The coming months will be critical for Italian football as it seeks a new direction following this high-profile leadership overhaul. The choice of the next coach and the federation’s strategic decisions will be closely watched ahead of upcoming international fixtures and the broader efforts to reclaim Italy’s status in world football.
Gennaro Gattuso
Gabriele Gravina
Bosnia
Italy
FIGC
