Gattuso Resigns as Italy Coach After World Cup Failure

Gennaro Gattuso has mutually terminated his contract as the head coach of Italy's national football team after the team's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Italy missed the opportunity to participate in the tournament, which is set to take place in the summer, after being defeated 4-1 in a penalty shootout against Bosnia and Herzegovina during the playoff.

Gattuso, who earned 73 caps for the Azzurri during his playing career, was appointed as the successor to Luciano Spalletti in June and managed to win six out of eight games during his tenure. In a post-match conference, Gattuso expressed his deep regret over the defeat, stating it was hard to digest and that he felt heavy-hearted about not achieving the goals set for the national team.

Following his resignation, Gabriel Gravina, the head of the Italian Football Association (FIGC), announced that former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon would work closely with the national side in a delegated role. Italy, a four-time World Cup champion, has now missed three consecutive World Cups, having last participated in the 2014 tournament.