Former Rangers hero departs managerial post with 'pain in heart' after historic failure
The former Rangers favourite has stepped down after less than a year in charge.
Former Rangers midfielder Rino Gattuso has quit his role as Italy head coach after less than a year in charge following their failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third successive time.
Italy confirmed that they had agreed a mutual termination of Gattuso’s contract on Friday afternoon following the penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuesday evening’s World Cup play-off, with the 48-year-old saying he departs with “pain in his heart.”
Aiming to end their 12-year exile from the tournament, Italy had made the final stage of the UEFA playoff, having beaten Northern Ireland 2-0 last week in Bergamo. Fiorentina striker Moise Kean had given them a dream early lead after just 15 minutes in Zenica, but, after being forced to play much of the match with 10 men following Alessandro Bastoni’s 41st-minute red card, Bosnia found a late equaliser through Haris Tabakovic on 79 minutes before winning 4-1 on penalties.
Gattuso, who spent 15 months as a player at Rangers between the years of 1997 and 1998, was appointed as manager of Italy in June 2025 following a short stint in the Croatia top flight with Hajduk Split. However, he was only able to achieve a second placed finish in their World Cup qualification group, ending the campaign six points behind Norway.
Having failed to reach Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, the result meant the four-time world champions became the first former winners to miss out on three consecutive World Cups. The Italian head coach leaves the Azzurri alongside Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina and head of delegation Gianluigi Buffon, who have also confirmed they will depart their respective roles alongside Gattuso.
“With pain in my heart, having failed to achieve the target we set ourselves, I am bringing an end to my experience as national team boss,” said an emotional Gattuso. “The blue shirt is the most special one that exists in football and for that reason I need to leave it in hands of a new technical team going into the future.
“I must thank president Gravina and Buffon, and all those I’ve worked with at the federation, for the faith and support they have always given me. It was an honour to lead the national team and I did it with a group of lads who always showed fight and devotion to the shirt. The biggest thank you going to the fans and to all the Italians who never stopped supporting us even in these last few months.”
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