Gabriele Gravina insists Gennaro Gattuso is a ‘well-prepared coach’ who gave Italy ‘a soul’, but some players ‘didn’t perform as expected’ in the World Cup play-off.
Outgoing FIGC President gave an interview to Corriere della Sera, in which he discussed his resignation and the crisis in Italian football.
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The new FIGC President will be elected on June 22 and will then hire a new coach to replace Gattuso.
The latter had been appointed in June 2025 to replace Luciano Spalletti but failed in his attempt to bring Italy to the World Cup.
Gravina defends Gattuso after Italy’s World Cup flop
The Azzurri lost the play-off Final on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina and will be absent from the World Cup for the third consecutive time.
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Head coach of Italy Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
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Gattuso is “a well-prepared coach and a wonderful person,” Gravina said.
“Despite having little time to train, he managed to give the team a soul. It wasn’t enough, and he was the first one to be sorry.
“On paper, we are stronger than Northern Ireland and Bosnia. I experienced those days with the team and the players, who promised they’d give their all. And they did. Some were carrying knocks, others arrived in top form but didn’t perform as expected.”
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Gianluigi Buffon has also resigned as Italy’s Delegation Chief, but Gravina believes that the ex-goalkeeper has a bright future as a football director ahead.
“I brought him to Club Italia because I believe he has a great managerial career ahead of him,” he said.
“In recent years, he has trained and grown a lot. Now, however, it’s up to him to make the best choices for his future.”
ROME, ITALY – JUNE 19: Gianluigi Buffon, Italy new head coach Gennaro Gattuso and FIGC president Gabriele Gravina pose during the press conference at Hotel Parco dei Principi on June 19, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
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Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti, who led the Azzurri from September 2023 until last June, has proposed using an under-19 player in every Serie A starting line-up, but it’s something that can’t be imposed by law.
“Unfortunately, not,” concluded Gravina.
“We can only try through a system of incentives for Italian youth academies. One example could be tax credits, but the Government has never wanted to grant them.”
