FIGC in contact with Gattuso for Italy head coach job after Spalletti departure

Reports on Tuesday afternoon claim that the FIGC are now in contact with Gennaro Gattuso, who has been dubbed the frontrunner to take over as head coach of the Italy national team following the departure of Luciano Spalletti. 

Spalletti confirmed on Sunday that he will be leaving his position as CT after the World Cup qualifier against Moldova, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the Azzurri on Monday night. 

The FIGC had hoped to appoint Claudio Ranieri to replace Spalletti, but the 73-year-old has since informed the federation that he ‘does not feel up to it’, which means that he is set to continue in his current role with Roma instead. 

Stefano Pioli, who had also been linked with the Italy job in initial reports, now looks set to join Fiorentina as head coach instead. 

Italy in contact with Gattuso over CT vacancy

Now, Gattuso is the frontrunner for the job, and the FIGC are now in contact with the former Milan midfielder, who also has coaching experience with the Rossoneri as well as with Pisa, Napoli, Valencia, Olympique de Marseille and Hajduk Split according to reports from Sky Sport Italia. 

Recent reports claim that a cast of former 2006 World Cup winners are also being considered for the Italy head coach role, including Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Cannavaro, while a return for Roberto Mancini has also not yet been ruled out.