Six candidates to lead Italy into painful reset following World Cup ‘disgrace’
The Azzurri were felled by Bosnia to miss out on a third straight World Cup and head coach Gennaro Gattuso’s job is under serious threat. Who might replace him in the role?
Italy ’s failure to reach the World Cup for the third straight time could lead to a complete overhaul of the system and head coach Gennaro Gattuso ’s future also looks imperiled after the heartbreaking play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia triumphed on penalties in the European qualifying playoff final as the Azzurri’s unwanted streak of not appearing at a men’s World Cup since 2014 continued. Gattuso and technical delegate Gianluigi Buffon only took over from the sacked Luciano Spalletti in June 2025, when Italy were already badly trailing Norway in their qualification group, but couldn’t turn the ship around and steer it to the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.
After the Bosnia loss, Buffon explained that he and Gattuso would remain in charge for the short term but with no guarantees beyond that. “This is a delicate moment, and we need to take the necessary time to make the right evaluations,” Buffon said in his post-match press conference. “Clearly, the sporting season ends in June, so until then it is only right and fair for us to be available to the Federation, the president, and all those who had faith in me.
We’ll be here until June, then we’ll see for the rest how the whole thing is tackled. ” Max Allegri, Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini are potential contenders for the Italy job if it becomes available (Composition / Getty Images) There have been calls for sweeping changes across the board, with Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina coming under fire for the “disgrace of missing out on the World Cup. “It is an unacceptable disgrace,” fumed the Lega party, a member of Giorgia Meloni’s ruling coalition, on social media.
“Italian football needs a complete overhaul, starting with the resignation of Gabriele Gravina. ” Italy's sport minister Andrea Abodi also called for a radical overhaul, saying “it’s clear that Italian football needs to be rebuilt from the ground up and that starts with changes at the top of the FIGC. ” But who could Italy turn to if they do get rid of their head coach?
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