Gennaro Gattuso confirmed as Lazio head coach amid parallels with Valencia CF | OneFootball

Lazio have appointed Gennaro Gattuso as head coach on Tuesday, only two months after Italy missed the 2026 World Cup during his tenure.

The club said in a statement that his experience, professionalism and determination would be central to reviving a project that has endured a spell of instability.

At 48, Gattuso returns to Serie A, a league he knows inside out from his playing days and subsequent coaching career. His arrival follows the departure of Maurizio Sarri, who has headed to Atalanta after concluding his second spell in charge.

Gattuso’s name still resonates in Valencia. He took over in summer 2022 to rebuild a side in transition, his competitive edge and straight talking initially striking a chord with supporters before on-pitch struggles and disagreements over planning hastened his exit within months. He left a recognisable imprint, for good and for ill.

After Mestalla he coached Milan, Napoli, Marseille and Hajduk Split, lifting the Coppa Italia with Napoli in 2020. He became Italy manager in June 2025, though his time in charge ended early. Lazio now operate amid institutional tensions, financial constraints and a widening gap between sections of the support and the hierarchy, circumstances that echo what he faced in Valencia.

Source: Superdeporte