Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed as new Italy coach to replace Luciano Spalletti, who was sacked last week following a 3-0 defeat to Norway.
Gattuso has been tasked with changing the fortunes of the team ahead of the FIFA World Cup next year following the inconsistent performances under Spalletti.
Italy suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Norway in the World Cup qualifiers, a result that sealed Spalletti’s fate.
The result leaves the 2006 World Cup champions in the third position in Group I with three points from two matches. It would be recalled that Italy have failed to qualify for the last two World Cup tournaments.
The Italian Football Federation President Gabriele Gravina confirmed Gattuso’s appointment on Sunday with a statement.
The statement read: “Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football.
“The blue jersey is like a second skin for him. His motivations, his professionalism and his experience will be fundamental to best face the upcoming commitments of the national team.
“His motivations, professionalism and experience will be fundamental in taking on the next challenges of the national team.
“He knows the importance of our objectives and I thank him for his readiness and dedication in accepting these challenges. He shares the FIGC’s project of the development of our football, in which the Azzurri shirt is a central part.”
Gattuso made 73 appearances for Italy, and was a member of the 2006 World Cup winning squad.
He recently left Croatian club Hajduk Split by mutual consent, after leading the club to a third-placed finish in the league.
Gattuso started his managerial career as a player-coach at Swiss side FC Sion in 2013 before taking up his first full-time role at Palermo, which lasted for just six matches.
He led Pisa to promotion from the third tier in 2016 before taking over the reins at AC Milan in 2017, he left the club after failing to qualify for the Champions League at the end of the 2018-19 season.
He has gone on to coach the likes of Napoli, Valencia, Marseille.
Gattuso will be unveiled on Thursday and he is expected to sign a two-year deal with the objective of leading Italy to the 2026 World Cup.
