Gattuso succeeds Sarri at Lazio
Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed as Lazio’s new head coach, having left the Italy job in April following their failure to reach the World Cup.
Gattuso was at the helm for another humiliating qualification failure for the Azzurri, who were beaten on penalties by Bosnia-Herzegovina in their play-off final in late March.
That result made them the first former champions to miss three consecutive World Cups and came after they finished behind a rampant Norway side in their qualification group.
Gattuso took the Italy job midway through their qualification campaign after Luciano Spalletti’s exit and won six of his eight matches at the helm (D1 L1).
However, his one draw resulted in that decisive shoot-out loss in the play-offs and his only defeat was a crushing 4-1 loss at home to Norway.
Gattuso was then let go by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), but he has sealed a quick return to the club game with the Biancocelesti.
Lazio parted ways with Maurizio Sarri in the wake of a disappointing 2025-26 season, which saw them finish ninth in Serie A and lose 2-0 to Inter in the Coppa Italia final, failing to qualify for European football.
Benvenuto, Mister #AvantiLazio pic.twitter.com/n9P3dkIYuP
— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) June 23, 2026
Gattuso previously had spells in charge of AC Milan and Napoli in Serie A, while the former midfielder has also coached in Spain with Valencia and France with Marseille.
Sarri has also found work quickly following his exit from the Stadio Olimpico, taking the Atalanta job after Raffaele Palladino’s departure.
