The Italian soccer association is taking its time in its search for a new head coach. Now U-21 national team coach Silvio Baldini is to take over responsibility for the Squadra Azzurra on an interim basis.
Instead of World Cup preparations, the Italian national team only has two test matches on the program this summer. At the beginning of June, the Squadra Azzurra will test in the matches in Luxembourg (3 June) and Greece (7 June), which are of no sporting significance after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup – then with Silvio Baldini on the sidelines.
As the Italian Football Federation announced on Friday, the current Italy U-21 national team coach will also take over responsibility for the senior national team on an interim basis. The 67-year-old has been coach of the U-21s since the summer of 2025, and Baldini has won seven of his eight games with the Juinoren so far in qualifying for the U-21 European Championship. Baldini will be supported by his existing coaching staff in the two test matches, the national association FIGC announced.
The defeat in the play-offs of the World Cup qualifiers in Bosnia-Herzegovina (1:4 in the final) meant that Italy missed out on participation in the World Cup for the third time in a row. A few days later, head coach Gennaro Gattuso resigned after less than a year in charge. “It is with a heavy heart that I consider my time as national team coach to be over, as we did not achieve the goal we set ourselves,” said the 48-year-old.
Gattuso succession still open
It is not yet known who his successor will be. Antonio Conte, among others, has recently put himself forward for the role, which would be his second term as head coach of the Azzurri (first between summer 2014 and summer 2016). Massimiliano Allegri, the current Milan coach, is also being touted as a candidate.
In addition to Gattuso, the heavily criticized association president Gabriele Gravina and goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon as head of the national team delegation had also announced their resignations. The decision on who will succeed Gravina as head of the association is to be made on June 22. It is possible that the decision regarding the new national team coach will not be made until then.
