Italy sack manager Gennaro Gattuso as fallout from World Cup qualification debacle continues | OneFootball

Italy’s football federation parted ways with manager Gennaro Gattuso on ⁠Friday as the fallout continues from the national team's failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Italy lost Tuesday’s playoff final to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a heartbreaking penalty shootout having surrendered an early lead, meaning the four-time champions have now failed to reach three consecutive World ⁠Cups.

Gattuso’s departure came a day after the football federation (​FIGC) ⁠president Gabriele Gravina resigned after overseeing two failed qualifying campaigns, with national team delegation head Gianluigi Buffon also stepping down from his role.

Italy sports minister Andrea Abodi had called for a change in leadership after this latest humiliation as Italy must wait another four years to make a first World Cup appearance since 2014.

Gravina’s exit made it unlikely for Gattuso to remain in position, having lost a key ally.

“With a heavy ⁠heart, having failed to achieve the goal we had set ourselves, ​I ⁠consider my time in charge ‌of the national team to be over,” Gattuso said in a statement.

“The Azzurri shirt is the most precious asset in football, which ‌is why it is right to facilitate future ‌technical assessments with immediate effect.

“It has been an honour to lead the national team, and to do so with a group of lads who have shown commitment ⁠and loyalty to the shirt.”

Gattuso was appointed in June on a one-year contract, replacing Luciano Spalletti, who was sacked following Italy's 3-0 defeat by Norway in their opening group game, although he remained in place for the 2-0 win over Moldova the next day.

Italy won their next five group games under Gattuso, but given Norway's far superior ‌goal difference, they were resigned to another World Cup playoff ​before the final group game, which Norway won 4-1 ‌at the San Siro.

Italy had ⁠lost at the playoff stage of the last two World ⁠Cups, but looked on course to make it this time after a 2-0 win over ‌Northern Ireland in ​the semi-final, before it all fell ‌apart in Bosnia.

Gattuso's 10-man team ​let slip a 1-0 lead after being reduced to 10 men and crumbled in the penalty shootout.