Gattuso Leaves Italy National Team After World Cup Play-off Failure: "An Honour to Have Coached the Azzurri"

The Italian Football Federation announced on Friday that it had officially parted ways, by mutual consent, with head coach Gennaro Gattuso, after his failure to lead the Azzurri to the World Cup finals.

In his farewell message, Gennaro Gattuso wrote: "It was an honour to have coached the national team, and thank you to all Italians for their love and their unwavering support."

The decision came after the contract between Gattuso and the Italian Football Federation was terminated by mutual consent, following his failure to lead the team to the World Cup finals after the play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties.

Gabriele Gravina, president of the Italian Football Federation, had also tendered his resignation following this failure to reach the World Cup for the third time in a row, while Gianluigi Buffon likewise stepped down from his post with the Italy national team.