Gattuso takes Lazio job two months after Italy's World Cup qualifying collapse

Gennaro Gattuso has been confirmed as Lazio’s new head coach, ending a brief spell away from management that followed one of the most damaging chapters in Italian football history.

The 48-year-old left the Italy national team role by mutual consent in April after the Azzurri were eliminated in their World Cup qualifying play-off, losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The defeat denied Italy a place at the 2026 tournament and triggered a sweeping leadership clear-out: FIGC president Gabriele Gravina resigned the following day after overseeing two consecutive failed qualifying campaigns, and national team delegation head Gianluigi Buffon also stepped down.

Italy sports minister Andrea Abodi had called for a major overhaul of Italian football’s leadership structure in the aftermath of the result. Gattuso, who had been appointed Italy head coach in June 2025, was among those to exit as the federation sought to rebuild.

Lazio moved quickly to bring him to the Stadio Olimpico, filling the vacancy left by Maurizio Sarri, who departed at the end of May after the club finished ninth in Serie A last season. In a statement on the club’s website, Lazio said: “The club welcomes the new coach with satisfaction, believing that his experience, professionalism, and determination can contribute to the achievement of the club’s sporting goals.”

Gattuso brings considerable club management experience to Rome. The former AC Milan midfielder has previously taken charge of Milan, Napoli, Valencia, and Marseille, giving him a broad range of experience across European football before his move into international management.

For Lazio, the appointment signals an ambition to improve significantly on last season’s ninth-place Serie A finish. For Gattuso, it offers a chance to rebuild his reputation at club level after the national team disappointment.