Will Gattuso be able to get Italy out of the crisis?

Italian football is once again facing the specter of failure. After two consecutive missed World Cups, the "Squadra Azzurri" is on the verge of a third. And at this critical moment, the responsibility to save the national team falls on the shoulders of… Gennaro Gattuso.

His name inspires respect – a hero of the 2006 World Cup, a symbol of a golden era. But is the legendary “Rino“ the right man for the job? His figure brings emotion, passion, and unquestionable authority in the dressing room. But from a coaching point of view, his career so far has been full of short-term commitments and unsatisfactory results.

His last stay at Hajduk Split ended in collapse – a missed title, conflicts with fans and TV analysts, and another separation. Before that: short spells at Napoli, Milan, Valencia… Everywhere Gattuso gives the impression of a strong character, but a weak strategic vision.

The truth is that Italy's problem is not only a coaching one. This is the weakest squad in decades. Outside of Donnarumma, Bastoni and Barella, we will have a hard time finding world-class players. The young ones? Almost absent – in Serie A only 8.2% of the minutes this year were played by players under 21. In Spain – almost twice as many. In Barcelona – 38%!

What does this tell us? That the system is broken. That the talents in Italy are neglected for foreign purchases and short-term goals. That the clubs are not developing the future. Remember the words of Roberto Mancini: “We played on the streets, now that's gone. It's no coincidence that Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil are still producing stars.“

Gattuso can't solve this. Neither he, nor Mancini, nor Spalletti before him. A complete reform is needed - like the one in Germany after Euro 2000, or in England in the 2010s. Otherwise, even with the best motivator at the helm, Italy will have nothing to fight with on the big stage.

But if there's one thing Gattuso can bring - it's spirit. And sometimes, as Euro 2020 proved, when Mancini wins with a team without superstars, spirit is everything.