Gattuso poised to take over as Italy coach after Spalletti exit
ROME: Italy are set to appoint former midfield enforcer Gennaro Gattuso as their new head coach, following the sacking of Luciano Spalletti, according to Gianluigi Buffon, head of delegation at the Italian football federation (FIGC).
Speaking at the Under-21 European Championship, Buffon told Italy’s state broadcaster RAI, “We have worked, we are now waiting for the final details.” He added, “The president and the whole federation have had some busy days but I think that in the end we made the best choice.”
Spalletti, who had been in charge for less than two years, was dismissed after a shock 3-0 defeat to Norway in Italy’s opening World Cup qualifier. He led the team for the final time in a 2-0 win over Moldova, just a day after announcing his departure.
Gattuso, a 2006 World Cup winner with 73 caps for the Azzurri, recently parted ways with Croatian club Hajduk Split by mutual consent, after guiding them to a third-place finish in the league. His appointment signals a return to national duty, this time from the dugout.
