On 3/4, Gennaro Gattuso agreed to step down as Italy's head coach before his contract expired. While he and his coaching staff were legally entitled to contract termination compensation, the Corriere della Sera reported that Gattuso declined his personal share. Instead, he requested that the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) allocate the funds to better support his assistants.

This act of generosity is not new for Gattuso. He made similar gestures when departing from OFI Crete in 2014, Pisa in 2017, and AC Milan in 2019. During his playing career, Gattuso was known for his direct and tenacious style. He earned 73 caps for the Italy national team, contributing to the Azzurri's 2006 World Cup victory.

Gattuso coaching during Italy's match against Bosnia & Herzegovina, a game Italy lost in the World Cup 2026 play-off on 31/3. Photo: Reuters

Gattuso was appointed to replace Luciano Spalletti in June 2025. Under the 48-year-old's guidance, Italy recorded 6 wins and 2 losses. Both defeats were significant: a 1-4 loss to Norway in the European qualifiers and a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia & Herzegovina in the World Cup 2026 play-off final. Consequently, Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive tournament, having previously lost 0-1 to underdogs Sweden in 2018 and North Macedonia in 2022.

To prevent a similar outcome, the Italian Government, through Minister of Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, mandated a comprehensive restructuring of Italian football and the FIGC's leadership. "Football is a sport, and in times of economic and military crisis like the present, it should not be burdened with excessive meaning," Abodi stated. "But it cannot be denied that football is more than just a sport. Especially in Italy, football has become a cornerstone of popular culture, a communal ritual, and a symbol of national prestige. It is disheartening to consider that a generation of children and teenagers in our country has not yet experienced the emotions of watching the national team compete in the World Cup."

A few days later, FIGC President Gabriele Gravina and Team Director Gianluigi Buffon resigned. These high-profile resignations are expected to pave the way for the reform of Italian football, a four-time World Cup champion, trailing only Brazil (5 titles).

By Thanh Quy (based on Corriere della Sera)