Ongoing exodus in Italian football as Gennaro Gattuso steps down as national team coach

The turmoil at the helm of Italian football has reached its peak: following the departures of Gabriele Gravina and Gianluigi Buffon, Gennaro Gattuso has now vacated the national teams managerial role.

The ex coach notified the governing body of his choice to resign following the failure to secure World Cup spots, after a penalty shoot out loss to Bosnia that highlights a fresh divide in sports and administration.

The federation issued a formal announcement about his exit on Friday evening, where Gattuso stated: "It is with great regret, after not meeting the objectives we aimed for, that I bring my tenure as national team manager to a close."

This move arrives amid escalating tensions, as the on field setbacks have merged with the swift disintegration of the leadership framework surrounding the squad. Over a short span, the federations top tier has been cleared: initially, Gravina relinquished his post following talks with key federation members, then Buffon opted to end his tenure as delegation leader, posting a statement brimming with frustration.

Under these circumstances, Gattusos role grew unsustainable. The coaching initiative, launched to restore team morale, character, and drive, concluded without fulfilling its core aim: returning Italy to the World Cup stage after an extended break.

A fresh chapter

The next critical step for Italys football landscape involves selecting a successor at a juncture where the national side has skipped three World Cups in a row and needs to regain trust, strategy, and success.

The ultimate pick for the new manager will rest with the president chosen during the assembly set post June 22, once fresh leadership takes the reins at the federation. In the meantime, prominent and seasoned options are circulating inside the organisation: top contenders include Massimiliano Allegri and Antonio Conte, viewed as leaders able to swiftly instill command and influence in this renewed phase.

Additionally, an interim arrangement is under review: Silvio Baldini, who leads the Under 21 side, might assume temporary control of the senior team, covering at least the upcoming summer matches versus Luxembourg and Greece, pending the new administrations permanent plan.

Italy now embarks on a full scale overhaul: lacking a president, delegation chief, and manager, the reconstruction effort begins anew.