• Gattuso now leads the race to become Italy’s next head coach

• Ranieri’s refusal opens the door for a new generation on the bench

• FIGC impressed with his intensity, passion, and track record with young players

With Claudio Ranieri officially declining the opportunity to coach the Italian national team, all signs now point to Gennaro Gattuso as the FIGC’s preferred candidate to lead the Azzurri into a new era. The fiery former midfielder, known for his grit and leadership on and off the pitch, has emerged as the front-runner in what was previously a wide-open coaching race.

Gattuso, 46, has been without a managerial post since parting ways with Olympique Marseille in early 2024. Despite a brief and challenging stint in Ligue 1, he remains a highly respected figure in Italian football, both for his legacy as a World Cup-winning player and for his high-energy, no-nonsense coaching style that has resonated particularly well with younger squads.

Sources close to the FIGC confirm that Gattuso has already held initial talks with the federation’s leadership, and he is seen as a coach who can instill passion, discipline, and tactical identity in a squad that looked directionless during their Euro 2024 campaign. The federation is said to be impressed with his clear ideas, his communication skills, and his ability to bring unity to fractured dressing rooms.

“Gattuso represents a bridge between the old-school Italian mentality and the modern, fast-paced demands of international football,” one FIGC insider told Italian media. “He can command respect from veterans, but also nurture the younger generation of Azzurri stars.”

Gattuso’s coaching résumé includes stops at Napoli, Milan, Pisa, Valencia, and Marseille. At Napoli, he won the Coppa Italia and managed to keep the club competitive in a transitional phase. While his time abroad yielded mixed results, it also offered the coach broader tactical exposure and experience in dealing with pressure-heavy environments—an essential trait for managing the national team.

With Italy’s next international fixtures coming this fall, including qualifiers and preparatory friendlies ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the FIGC is keen to make a swift decision. Gattuso, who has made no secret of his desire to represent Italy again in a new role, now seems closer than ever to realizing that ambition.

“If I get the call, I’ll be ready,” Gattuso said in a past interview. “Wearing the Italy shirt was the greatest honor of my life. Sitting on that bench would be no different.”

The coming days could be decisive, with a formal offer reportedly in the works. For now, Italy may be gearing up for the Gattuso era, an era of fire, fight, and maybe a bit of redemption.