Italian football is in turmoil as head coach Gennaro Gattuso is anticipated to resign from his position following the national team's devastating failure to qualify for a third successive FIFA World Cup. This crisis comes after Italy's shocking 4-1 penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a crucial play-off match on Tuesday night.
Historic Failure and Immediate Fallout
The defeat marks a historic low for the four-time World Cup champions, making Italy the first nation to have won the trophy to miss three consecutive finals tournaments, having previously failed to qualify for both Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. The immediate aftermath has already witnessed significant resignations from key figures within the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who served as head of delegation, have both stepped down from their roles. Gravina had surprisingly requested that Gattuso remain as manager just hours before his own resignation during an emergency meeting at the FIGC headquarters in Rome.
Gattuso's Decision and Potential Successors
Reports from Italy indicate that Gattuso is expected to take several days to finalise his decision, but the overwhelming expectation is that he will follow Gravina and Buffon in leaving his post. There are suggestions that Gattuso might remain temporarily to oversee friendly matches in June, providing the federation with time to appoint a permanent successor.
According to Corriere Dello Sport, two prominent former Italy managers have emerged as leading contenders to replace Gattuso. Roberto Mancini, who memorably led Italy to Euro 2020 glory during a remarkable 37-match unbeaten run, is reportedly favoured by Giovanni Malago, a contender to become the next FIGC president. Mancini previously managed Italy after their failure to reach the 2018 World Cup, though he was also in charge when they missed qualification for Qatar 2022 after losing a play-off to North Macedonia.
Antonio Conte, who coached Italy between 2014 and 2016, is viewed as another strong candidate. Conte was credited with guiding one of Italy's weakest squads to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, where they defeated defending champions Spain before falling to world champions Germany after extra time. Other names mentioned in Italian media include AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri, Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho, and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, though the latter is considered an unlikely appointment.
Buffon's Emotional Departure and UEFA Warning
Gianluigi Buffon, the 2006 World Cup-winning goalkeeper, confirmed his resignation with an emotional statement on Instagram, describing it as "an act of responsibility." He expressed his deep disappointment at failing to achieve the primary objective of returning Italy to the World Cup stage.
Amid this crisis, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin delivered a stark warning that Italy could lose its co-hosting rights for Euro 2032 with Turkey due to the poor condition of the nation's stadium infrastructure. Ceferin defended Gravina while criticising Italian politicians for failing to address the infrastructure issues that plague Italian football.
The FIGC has announced that a vote to elect a new president will take place on June 22 following Gravina's resignation. As Italian football confronts this unprecedented period of instability, the search for new leadership and a path forward begins amidst questions about the nation's footballing future.
