Italy Nears Gattuso Appointment as National Team Manager

Italy is set to appoint former midfielder Gennaro Gattuso as the new head coach of the national football team, succeeding Luciano Spalletti who was recently sacked following a poor start in World Cup qualifying. The appointment, confirmed by team manager Gianluigi Buffon and other sources, is pending final contract details and marks Gattuso's debut as a national team manager after a lengthy club management career including stints at Napoli, AC Milan, Marseille, Valencia, and Hajduk Split. Gattuso, known for his passionate and aggressive style, won the Coppa Italia with Napoli in 2020 and is tasked with revitalizing the Azzurri as they aim to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after missing the last two tournaments. His appointment was favored over other candidates such as Claudio Ranieri, who declined the role to remain a senior advisor at AS Roma. Buffon emphasized the federation's confidence that Gattuso is the best choice to avoid further embarrassing performances and improve Italy's international results. The official announcement is expected soon, with Gattuso preparing to lead the team in upcoming World Cup qualifiers starting in September.