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Gattuso resigned form his post as the head coach of the Azzuri following what was the peninsular nation’s third straight failure to reach the World Cup.
Gennaro Gattuso (X)
Italy head coach Gennaro Gattuso stepped down form his role at the helm of the four-time World Cup-winners, who missed out on qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 following their qualifiers defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Gattuso resigned form his post as the head coach of the Azzuri following what was the peninsular nation’s third straight failure to reach the World Cup.
Gattuso, a crucial part of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning side, vowed to take Gli Azzuri into the quadrennial showpiece in an attempt to pull the national football team out of the shambles of having missed out on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. However, he failed to follow through on the promise and opted to step down as a result.
A day earlier, FIGC boss Gabriele Gravina and head of delegation, Gianluigi Buffon, also left their posts following the side’s defeat.
Gravina’s announcement came a day after Sport Minister Andrea Abodi called on him to resign.
“It’s clear that Italian football needs to be rebuilt from the ground up and that starts with changes at the top of the FIGC,” Abodi had said.
The fallout after Italy’s latest humiliation for one of the world’s most successful football nations forced the 72-year-old Gravina to abandon his initial plan to wait until a FIGC board meeting next week before announcing his decision on his future.
In a statement, the FIGC said that a vote for a new president would be held on June 22.
Gravina was elected FIGC president in October 2018, becoming the permanent successor to Carlo Tavecchio, who stepped down after Italy’s first World Cup play-off defeat to Sweden the previous year.
The highlight of Gravina’s tenure was Italy’s thrilling triumph at Euro 2020, when Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri, unbeaten in 37 matches, defeated England at Wembley to be crowned kings of the continent for the second time.
However, two failed World Cup qualification campaigns and a dismal defence of the European title left Gravina with little choice but to resign as Italy’s football troubles deepen.
April 03, 2026, 6:49 PM IST
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