Gennaro Gattuso is the new head coach of the Italian national soccer team. The formal announcement was made on Sunday afternoon via the FIGC website: "The Italian Soccer Federation announces that Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed as head coach of the Italian national team. The Calabrian coach will be presented on Thursday, June 19 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Rome". President Gabriele Gravina of the FIGC stated, "Gattuso is a symbol of Italian soccer; the Azzurri jersey is like a second skin to him. His passion, professionalism, and experience will be critical in facing the National Team's impending commitments. Aware of the significance of the goal we seek, I thank him for his availability and complete dedication in accepting this task, sharing the FIGC project for the entire growth of our game, in which the blue jersey plays an important role". Gattuso will make his debut on September 5 against Estonia at the Gewiss in Bergamo, Atalanta's home stadium, in the third qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup. He will be accompanied by his long-time assistant, Gigi Riccio, but Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci, who, like Ringhio, have been synonymous with remarkable national team achievements, should also join the Azzurri staff. Cesare Prandelli will also serve as technical director, responsible for identifying and aligning young potential with the needs of the senior national team. Gattuso's contract will be connected to the 2026 World Cup: if he qualifies, he will lead the Azzurri in the United States, Mexico, and Canada; if Italy fails to qualify for the third World Cup in a row, the national team will change coaches once more. Gattuso, 47, won a world championship with his national team in Germany in 2006. In his coaching career, he headed Sion, Palermo, Ofi Creta, Pisa, Milan Primavera, Milan, Napoli, Valencia, Olympique Marseille, and Hajduk Split.  Now begins his new adventure as national coach.