Roma manager Claudio Ranieri has turned down the offer from the Italian national team, and Gennaro Gattuso has been chosen to replace Luciano Spalletti.
Italy has chosen a generational change in the coaching staff after Luciano Spalletti’s departure. – It was too much to lose to Norway in the World Cup qualifiers, despite the fact that they know that Norway has some of the world’s biggest football stars. – Fortunately for Italy, they won 2 – 0 against Romania a few days later.
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Gennaro Gattuso will lead the new project at the Azzurri, after Claudio Ranieri turned down the offer to take over the national team. The former Milan midfielder, who recently became vacant after his stint at Hajduk Split, is the federation’s choice to give new life to a team that needs identity and results.
Gennaro Gattuso – the future of the Italian national team coach
Gattuso, known for his fighting spirit and intensity both on the pitch and on the sidelines, faces the biggest challenge of his coaching career. Although his spells at clubs such as Milan, Napoli and Valencia had ups and downs, he is respected among the Italian players – not least because of his history with the national team. His immediate goal will be to restore stability to a team that has suffered several setbacks in the last qualifying cycle.
Ranieri’s decision opened the door
The FIGC’s decision comes after days of meetings and speculation, in which names like Ranieri were heavily mentioned. In the end, the experienced Roman coach’s rejection opened the door for Gattuso. His recent experience in Croatia was modest in terms of results but sufficient to keep him relevant for European national teams.
The next few months will be crucial to see how Gattuso adapts to a very different environment from club football. With the challenge of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and restoring Italy’s prestige, the former player will have to make his mark on a team that needs faith and leadership. Expectations are high, and the margin of error will be minimal from the very first game.
Claudio Ranieri’s greatest achievements:
- Leicester City’s miracle (2015/16):
- First Premier League title in club history (+5000 pre-season odds)
- Named Premier League Manager of the Year
- Monaco promotion (2012/13):
- Led the team to the Ligue 1 championship after being promoted the year before
- Valencia CF (1997–99):
- Won the Copa del Rey and qualified the team for the Champions League
- Parma (2007):
- Saved the team from relegation against all odds
- Chelsea (2000–04):
- Laid the foundation for Jose Mourinho’s success with 2nd place in the Premier League
- Serie B championship (1989):
- Led Cagliari to promotion as new manager
Ranieri’s ability to exceed expectations with underdog teams has made him one of the most beloved “mix coaches” in football history. His rejection of the Italy job underlines that he prefers club football – and perhaps one last adventure.
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