Gattuso becomes 23rd Italy coach, 15th in 50 years to take burden of the job

Gennaro Gattuso becomes the 23^rd different coach of Italy, but there have now been 15 in the last 50 years.

It had already been in the air and today the FIGC formally announced that Gattuso would replace Luciano Spalletti on the Azzurri bench.

He will be presented to the media in a press conference in Rome on June 19, then start preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in September.

‘Rino’ – full name Ivan Gennaro Gattuso – is 47 years old and was part of the squad that won the 2006 World Cup.

Now his main role is simply trying to ensure the Nazionale don’t miss a third consecutive edition of the tournament.

He becomes the 23^rd Commissario Tecnico (CT) of the Italy squad, with the first Vittorio Pozzo, the winner of the 1934 and 1938 World Cups.

Gattuso latest in long line of Italy coaches

The process has become tougher in recent years, meaning there have been 15 coaches in the last 50 years.

The longest-running Italy boss was Enzo Bearzot, who oversaw 104 matches and took them to victory in the 1982 World Cup.

Marcello Lippi won the 2006 World Cup, resigned and then returned two years later after a brief Roberto Donadoni tenure, but it ended bitterly with the group stage exit of the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Things took a downward turn after Antonio Conte left in the wake of EURO 2016, as Gian Piero Ventura was fired after losing the World Cup qualification play-offs in November 2017.

Gigi Di Biagio was caretaker manager for two games, then Roberto Mancini stepped in and won the EURO 2020 tournament in July 2021.

He resigned in August 2023, just days before a crucial EURO 2024 qualifier, replaced at the last minute by Luciano Spalletti.