Italy great Gattuso named country's new coach

Former midfield large Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed arsenic Italy's caller caput manager pursuing Luciano Spalletti exit from the nationalist team, the Italian shot federation (FIGC) has announced.

Gattuso, who made 73 appearances for Italy and was a subordinate of the 2006 World Cup winning squad, precocious near Croatian nine Hajduk Split by communal consent, aft a third-placed decorativeness successful the country's apical flight.

Spalletti's sacking came aft little than 2 years successful the job. He was successful complaint for the last clip successful the 2-0 win implicit Moldova connected Monday, the time aft helium announced his ain dismissal pursuing a 3-0 loss successful Norway successful Italy's opening World Cup qualifying game.

"Gattuso is simply a awesome of Italian football, the garment is similar his 2nd skin," FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said successful a statement.

"His motivations, professionalism and acquisition volition beryllium cardinal successful taking connected the adjacent challenges of the nationalist team. He knows the value of our objectives and I convey him for his readiness and dedication successful accepting this challenges. He shares the FIGC's task of the improvement of our football, successful which the Azzurri garment is simply a cardinal part."

Gattuso, who guided Napoli to a Coppa Italia triumph successful 2020, is tasked with getting Italy to adjacent year's World Cup, aft they missed retired connected the past 2 editions of the tournament.

Gattuso began his coaching vocation arsenic player-coach astatine Swiss nine Sion successful 2013 wherever helium finished his playing days aft 13 seasons with AC Milan, but was fired aft winning 2 of his 10 league games successful charge.

Over a 12-year coaching journey, Gattuso has been successful complaint of 9 clubs including Milan, Valencia and a little stint astatine Marseille.

Former Chelsea and Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri said connected Tuesday that helium had turned down the Italy job.

Ranieri led Roma to a 5th spot decorativeness successful Serie A past play and has taken connected a elder advisory relation astatine the club.

"I'd similar to convey president Gravina for the opportunity, a large honour, but I person reflected and decided to stay astatine Roma's disposal successful my caller presumption completely," Ranieri told Italian quality outlet ANSA.

"The Friedkins person fixed maine their afloat enactment and backing for immoderate determination I person taken regarding the nationalist team, but the determination is excavation alone."

Gattuso volition beryllium formally introduced arsenic Italy's caller caput manager connected Thursday astatine Rome's Parco dei Principi Hotel.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.