Who will replace Gattuso as the head coach of the Italian national team?

The future of Gennaro Gattuso as the head coach of the Italian national team is becoming extremely precarious following the bitter defeat in the journey to secure a spot for the 2026 World Cup.

Potential candidates to replace Gattuso and lead the Italian national team

According to reliable sources from Italian media, the 46-year-old coach is likely to soon leave his hot seat, paving the way for a comprehensive overhaul in the football landscape of the blue nation.

In the decisive playoff match away against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the blue squad failed to accomplish their mission. Despite playing with great effort, Italy still lost on penalties in Zenica. This result means they will miss the planet's biggest football celebration for the third consecutive time, a shock in the history of the team that has won the World Cup four times.

The consequence is a comprehensive "reshuffle" within the management structure. Not only is Gennaro Gattuso expected to depart, but legend Gianluigi Buffon is also predicted to leave in the near future.

In this context, Italian media, including Sky Sport Italia, have pointed out three leading candidates who could replace Gattuso. The name most widely anticipated by fans is Massimiliano Allegri.

This highly experienced strategist is still in the first year of his two-year contract with AC Milan, which includes an option for an additional year. Although he has never coached a national team, Allegri is one of the most successful coaches in Serie A history with six Scudetto titles, ranking behind only a few legends.

Another notable option is Antonio Conte – who previously coached Italy from 2014 to 2016. Under Conte, the Azzurri started impressively with a 10-match unbeaten streak and easily secured a spot for EURO 2016. He later parted with the national team to coach Chelsea, after leading Italy to the quarter-finals of the tournament in France.

Additionally, Roberto Mancini is also mentioned as a feasible alternative. Currently under contract with Al-Sadd until 2027, Mancini is considered ready to return to coach the national team if offered. He is the one who led Italy to victory at EURO 2020 (held in 2021), although he also could not help the team qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

Besides the three candidates mentioned above, other options such as Simone Inzaghi or Stefano Pioli are also discussed, but currently they are seen as less feasible choices.

In the context of Italian football falling into a crisis of confidence, the decision to select a new head coach will be crucial, not only to restore the Azzurri's position on the world football map, but also to lay the foundation for a sustainable development cycle in the future.