Gattuso father reveals 2006 World Cup winner ‘very close to becoming new Italy coach’

Gennaro Gattuso is ‘very close’ to becoming the new Italy coach, confirmed his father. ‘Now he has to prove himself up to the task.’

The former Hajduk Split tactician met with team manager Gigi Buffon, then face to face with FIGC President Gabriele Gravina.

While multiple sources are confident that he will be the new boss of the Azzurri, confirmation has come straight from the Gattuso family.

“The all-clear is very close, Rino could be the new Italy coach,” Franco Gattuso told Adnkronos news agency.

“We would all be very happy for him, as he deserves it.”

Gattuso family ready to celebrate

His father still lives with much of the family in Corigliano Calabro, a small village in Calabria.

Rino is a regular visitor to his home town and even brought the World Cup trophy there in 2006 after the triumph in Germany.

“Everyone here is very pleased, if he brought the Cup back to Corigliano, it would be an extraordinary event,” added his father.

“Now it is up to him to prove he is up to the task, but he also must be given time to work.”

Italy have already started their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Norway and 2-0 victory over Moldova.

Luciano Spalletti was fired after that first game, but stayed on to oversee the second fixture, even though his fate had already been sealed.

The Azzurri will be back in action to continue the qualifying Group I in September and some more former Italy stars could be part of the staff.