Football/ Gattuso leaves Italy after World Cup heartbreak
Gennaro Gattuso’s brief tenure as Italy coach ended by mutual consent on Thursday, just days after the Azzurri failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
Italy’s hopes were crushed in a dramatic play-off final against Bosnia-Herzegovina, losing 4-1 on penalties after a tense stalemate.
The defeat means the four-time champions will miss this summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Appointed in June as Luciano Spalletti’s successor, Gattuso won six of his eight matches in charge.
However, the former midfield warrior, who earned 73 caps for Italy, admitted the setback was “hard to digest.”
“With a heavy heart, having failed to achieve our goal, I consider my time as coach to be over,” Gattuso said. “The Azzurri jersey is football’s most precious asset. It is right to facilitate future technical evaluations.”
The federation confirmed the separation, thanking Gattuso for his professionalism. A search for a new coach is now underway.
