Gennaro Gattuso resigns as Italy head coach after failing to qualify for World Cup | OneFootball

Four-time champions Italy are the first former winners to miss out on three consecutive World Cups

Gennaro Gattuso's reign as Italy manager ended on Friday, the country's football federation (FIGC) said, after the national team's failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Tuesday’s penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina saw Italy miss out on a third consecutive World Cup.

In the immediate aftermath, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and head of delegation Gianluigi Buffon, the former Juventus goalkeeper, stepped down from their roles.

Head coach Gattuso, 48, followed suit on Friday after taking responsibility for Italy only managing to finish second in their qualifying group, six points behind Norway, leading to a victorious first play-off round against Northern Ireland but then to the fateful showdown in Bosnia.

The former Valencia, Marseille and Hajduk Split boss told the FIGC website: "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.

"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."

Having also failed to reach Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, four-time champions Italy are the first former winners to miss out on three consecutive World Cups.

Additional reporting by Press Association.