Italy's playoff defeat to the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team for the 2026 World Cup has triggered major upheaval in Italian football. Gennaro Gattuso resigned as coach just days after Bosnia and Herzegovina eliminated the Azzurri from contention.
Gattuso stepped down in April, and Italy reinstated former manager Roberto Mancini in July. This move ended Gattuso's brief ten-month spell in charge. "I had 10 wonderful months," Gattuso said on Monday. "The lads I coached gave me their all."
Gattuso was candid about the psychological impact of the loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Bosnian team's victory in the playoff prevented Italy from qualifying for a third consecutive men's World Cup. This failure left a mark on the former 2006 World Cup winner. His decision to resign was a swift and direct consequence of that result.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) did not immediately decide on his successor. Various candidates were considered, including Andrea Pirlo and Antonio Conte. However, Pirlo's potential hiring was ruled out due to concerns over a sponsorship deal with Russian betting firm Fonbet. Conte was the preferred choice of the Serie A league, according to its president Ezio Maria Simonelli, but the federation opted for a familiar face.
The FIGC officially appointed Roberto Mancini as the new head coach in July. Mancini, who previously managed Italy from 2018 to 2023, signed a new deal. His first tenure was marked by winning Euro 2021 but also by failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Gattuso expressed full confidence in his successor.
"I'd say he [Mancini] is a great coach with a wealth of experience," Gattuso stated. "I wish him all the best because our football needs it." Mancini's first challenge will be a Nations League fixture against Belgium on September 25.
While Italy faces reconstruction, the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team continues its preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Following the historic playoff win, the squad aims to build on that success.
Italian media continues to analyze what went wrong in the qualifications. The defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina was the catalyst that set off a chain of events: Gattuso's resignation, a protracted search for a new coach, and finally, Mancini's return. Simonelli added that everyone must now get behind the new manager. "Today we must get behind Mancini and hope that he restores Italian football to the glory it deserves," he said.
Italy now looks ahead to a new cycle of matches. Their upcoming schedule can be found on our fixtures page. For the Bosnia and Herzegovina team, the victory over one of Europe's giants remains a significant boost as they prepare for upcoming challenges in their qualifying group.
