Gennaro Gattuso Promises To Create A "Family" In The Italian National Team

The Italian national team must be more family to secure tickets to the 2026 World Cup (Instagram/@azzurri).

JAKARTA - The new coach of the Italian National Team (Timnas), Gennaro Gattuso, promised to restore enthusiasm and create a family in a battered team, with the aim of securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup after the Azzurri missed twice in a row.

Gattuso replaced Luciano Spalletti, who was sacked this month after losing 0-3 to Norway in the European Zone 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. Spalletti officially resigned after overseeing his final match, a 2-0 win against Moldova.

"This is a dream come true. I certainly hope to do the task. I know this job won't be easy, but nothing is easy in life," said Gattuso, who recently left Croatian club Hajduk Split, after finishing third in the country's main league.

Dubbed "Ringhio" (Growler) because of his tenuous attitude on the pitch, this 47-year-old man earned 73 caps for the Italian national team and is a key member of the 2006 World Cup winning squad.

The fans hope that their strong character can help with the task of bringing the four-time world champion to the 2026 World Cup, which will be played in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Italy, who are third in Group I of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, will host Estonia on September 5, 2025 before facing Israel three days later.

"My goal is for anyone who comes to the training ground to come with great enthusiasm and to create a family," said Gattuso, who, according to a source at the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is given a one-year contract.

Gattuso spent most of his playing career at AC Milan, where he won two Champions League titles and two Serie A titles, before returning to coach the club from 2017 to 2019. As a manager, he won the Coppa Italia with Napoli in 2020.

"The main goal is to create a sense of belonging to the Azzurri team," Gattuso said during his presentation at a luxury hotel in central Rome, as reported by ESPN.

The new coach said he believed the players felt pressure because they did not qualify for the two consecutive World Cups. It burdens the team's performance.

"We have to be good at reacting. Only those who react and give everything they can get out of this situation," he said.

Currently, Italy has only packed three points from two matches that have been undertaken, one win and one defeat.

Italy is in Group I with Norway, Israel, Estonia, and Moldova.