Gattuso, new Italy coach: Buffon confirms the appointment

Gennaro Gattuso, Next Coach of the Italian National Team

The Italian national football team is about to name Gennaro Gattuso as their new coach, according to Gianluigi Buffon, head of the delegation of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). Buffon confirmed the news on Saturday, while he was at the European Under-21 Championship. “We have worked, now we are waiting for the final details,” he declared to the state broadcaster RAI.

“The president and the entire federation have had busy days, but I think in the end we made the best decision.”

Gianluigi Buffon

The appointment of Gattuso comes after the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti, who led the national team for less than two years. Spalletti was fired after the 3-0 defeat against Norway in the World Cup qualifying match. Gattuso, with 73 appearances for the Italian national team and a world champion in 2006, recently left the Croatian club Hajduk Split by mutual agreement, after finishing in third place in the league.