Gennaro Gattuso has received a request to continue his role as coach of the national team, as confirmed by Italy’s football chief shortly after Tuesday’s playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which saw the Azzurri miss out on a third consecutive World Cup.
Italy faced a 4-1 defeat in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in Zenica, making them the first reigning World Cup champions to skip three successive tournaments. This year’s event is set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“I have asked him to remain, and I also requested that (Gianluigi) Buffon continue in his role overseeing football operations,” Gabriele Gravina, president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), told the media.
Buffon has been appointed within the FIGC to manage both the senior and youth national teams.
When questioned about his willingness to accept Gravina’s proposition to stay on, Gattuso echoed his earlier comments to Italian broadcaster RAI, stating that it “wasn’t significant.”
“The loss is too painful to bear,” Gattuso lamented.
A World Cup champion in 2006, Gattuso took over as coach in June last year after Luciano Spalletti was dismissed. His current contract extends until after the World Cup.
Gravina also expressed his intent to remain in his role; however, his leadership of the FIGC will be deliberated at a board meeting scheduled for next week.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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