JAKARTA - Coach Gennaro Gattuso chose to resign following Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Former national team coach Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte are strong candidates to return to manage Gli Azzurri.
Gattuso finally left after less than a year of managing the Italian national team. Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row was the main reason for Gattuso's dismissal. Moreover, Gianluigi Donnaruma et al failed only because they lost a penalty shootout against an underestimated team, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Ironically, Italy was so sure that they could end the nightmare of failing to qualify for the World Cup when they met Bosnia and not Wales. Even the Italian players cheered for Bosnia's victory because they thought the team coached by Sergej Barbarez could be more easily overcome.
Their celebration was caught on television cameras which eventually went viral. Not less than the Italian players' behavior was criticized by former Bosnian players who had played in Serie A, Miralem Pjanic.
More than that, Pjanic revealed that Bosnia would make a surprise. And the prediction of the former Juventus star came true because Bosnia beat Gattuso's troops through a penalty shootout.
The humiliating defeat forced the President of the FIGC, the Italian football federation, Gabriele Gravina to resign. Not only that, the national team coordinator who is also an Italian goalkeeper legend Gianluigi Buffon has already resigned.
Finally, Gattuso decided to resign. Although he was asked to stay until June when Italy held two trials, the former AC Milan and Napoli coach chose to leave.
"With great sadness and failure we have reached our short-term goal, I feel my time as national team coach is over," Gattuso said in his statement, quoted by Football Italia.
"The Azzurri uniform is definitely the most valuable in football. With this consideration, this is the only right way regarding the federation's attitude in making future decisions," said Gattuso, who was honored to have the opportunity to manage the Italian national team.
"It's an honor to be able to handle the national team, especially being able to be with players who have commitment and dedication," he said again.
Gattuso replaced Luciano Spalletti in June last year. Spalletti was dismissed after failing to lead Italy to retain the title at the 2024 European Cup. The peak was when Italy was beaten 3-0 by Norway in the first match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Only Gattuso's appointment was unexpected because he did not show convincing performance as a coach. Gattuso was only able to lead Napoli to win the Coppa Italia and more often failed when handling AC Milan, Fiorentina, Valencia to Marseille.
He did make a pretty impressive result by bringing Italy to win six times, one loss and a draw from eight matches. But maturity and experience finally became the determinant.
In the penalty shootout against Bosnia, Gattuso surprisingly named young Francesco Pio Esposito as the first kicker. Bearing a heavy mental burden, the 20-year-old Inter Milan striker failed to complete the execution after his kick soared.
As a result, only Sandro Tonali could carry out the task. Meanwhile, the four Bosnian kickers could complete the execution to win 4-2.
With Gattuso's departure, a number of coaches have been mentioned to handle the national team. Mancini and Conte, who have coached Italy, are candidates.
In addition, there is Massimiliano Allegri who is currently managing AC Milan. However, Mancini is predicted to have the most chance to return to managing the national team.
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