Gennaro Gattuso appointed as new Italy boss: Smart, or more disappointment incoming for the Azzurri?

Gennaro Gattuso is set to be presented as the new Italy manager on Thursday in Rome. (Photo via Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images: Getty Images)

A rapid sequence of events that cast a dim shadow over the recent batch of international fixtures for Italy has seen yet another manager’s stint in the dugout cut relatively short, this time Luciano Spalletti’s reign spanned just 24 games, whilst a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign and a difficult beginning in their bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup next year has seen the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) hedge their bets on an old ally.  

Gennaro Gattuso, or ‘Rino’ as they call him, set to take charge after he was appointed on Sunday and will face the music in September as the qualifiers resume, with the Azzurri facing up against Estonia and Israel respectively.  

The timing is useful for the former midfield general, this break gives him time to assess the players at his disposal, their performances in 24/25 and at the start of next season, though it remains a squad with much to be desired.  

You would think meanwhile, that was a key point to hire Gattuso above other targets, his know-how in the shirt, what it represents and symbolises. He made 73 caps for his country and played a key role in the triumphant run to the World Cup in 2006, starting in each knockout round, including two 120-minute showings in the semi-final and final.  

A true warrior, and a leader. The same went for his time most notably at AC Milan, where a storied 13 years with the Rossoneri emphasised his ferocious character.  

(Photo via New Press: Getty Images)

The FIGC meanwhile led by President Gabriele Gravina had several candidates in mind. The optimal choice was for Claudio Ranieri to come in after he worked his magic once again, this time almost spearheading AS Roma into the UEFA Champions League after a disastrous first half of the season for the Giallorossi.  

Ranieri respectfully declined, opting to remain in an executive capacity in the capital city, whilst it was unclear who came next for the Federation. Stefano Pioli was a name floating around to be the next target, whilst Gattuso’s sudden arrival to the scene suggests he was a late candidate.  

Jose Mourinho was perhaps a more of a dream choice with no concrete noise of talks or interest, though if you were to ask me, the ‘Special One’ would have been my pick.  

Though Rino it will be, and the goal on securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup is becoming ever more critical for a nation who have gone absent from the last two versions. It sounds unthinkable, but it is certainly reality.  

First failing to make it for the 2018 instalment in Russia under Gian Piero Ventura, before it seemed even more unlikely especially after the Azzurri had clinched Euro success in 2021, though Roberto Mancini’s success was short-lived after further failure to qualify for a competition that only Brazil have won more.  

It has been an indifferent 21st century for Italy in tournaments. An exciting time to be an Italian saw production of some of the top attacking talents in Europe continue on from Roberto Baggio, Gianluca Vialli and Gianfranco Zola, to Alessandro Del Piero, Francesco Totti, Filippo Inzaghi, Christian Vieri...the list goes on.  

(Photo via Gabriel Bouys/AFP: Getty Images)

Italy hadn’t won the World Cup since 1982 under Enzo Bearzot, their only European Championship went even further back to 1968, so it felt critical that this ‘golden’ crop of talent got to the top of the international food chain once more.  

A Euros final in 2000 was an encouraging start but ultimately ended in heartbreak with defeat to France, a disappointing Round of 16 exit in 2002 saw the yearning for an elusive fourth World Cup go on, though they weren’t made to wait much longer, putting it all together under Marcello Lippi in 2006 to clinch glory once more.  

Since? It’s been troubling. Through a period where many of that generation were coming to the end of their careers, the Azzurri began showing signs of worry. A Quarter-Final exit in the Euros in 08’ was not too alarming, before a calamitous group stage exit at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa certainly was.  

It was Italy’s first exit in the group phase since 1974. Panic set in, and the quality of the squad continued to deteriorate. The likes of Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon and Gattuso himself remained as the veterans in that squad, and it was the last we saw of Rino for Italy, though despite disaster, Italy were still producing talent.  

The famous trio of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli were all in their peak years and provided great defensive resilience in front of Buffon, Pirlo remained the maestro in midfield and the Azzurri saw potential in Lorenzo Insigne and Marco Verratti, though it was glaring to see the drop in quality in attacking areas with only Antonio Cassano and Antonio Di Natale the notably seasoned forwards in the ranks for the Euros in 2012.  

A young Mario Balotelli was also apart of the Euro 2012 squad. (Photo via Steward Kendall/Allstar: Getty Images)

It proved to be a good campaign for the Italians who faced World champions Spain in the group stage, and a 1-1 draw thanks to Di Natale’s opener added optimism that it could see a return to glory, though a repeat fixture in the final saw a mismatch with Spain decisively winning their third consecutive major tournament, leaving more disappointment for the Azzurri.  

Out of the group stage in the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and only reaching the quarter-finals under Antonio Conte in Euro 2016 spelled it out clearer that this was becoming a dark period for Italy.  

The point of all this is to note what Gattuso is following, and the scale of the job he has on his hands. This despite the Euro victory just four years ago, failure to qualify for Qatar in 2022 heaped the pressure back on the Federation to deliver.  

Mancini faltered after delivering a second European Championship, before Spalletti could not carry the momentum from winning the Scudetto with Napoli into the Azzurri, a nation who now face the unfathomable risk of missing out on a third successive World Cup, a feat they have never managed in their history.  

Gattuso's fierce passion will be required to lift this Italy group. (Photo via Yasser Bakhsh: Getty Images)

Gattuso has good experience now as a manager, notable time at Milan and winning the Coppa Italia with Napoli, though a more testing period has seen the Italian struggle at Valencia and Marseille over the past few years, before a more stable campaign at Hadjuk Split last season would have helped his case with the FIGC, though questions remain.  

Can Gattuso light a fire in a side that has seen the flame fizzle out over the past decade? Rino needed no invitation in his playing days, but he comes into a different environment 15 years on from his retirement from the national side.  

Will these players respond to Gattuso? Who will step up as leaders? Time will tell, but time is also limited when it comes to the first objective. A return to the World Cup.