Former AC Milan and Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed Italy national team coach, the Italian football federation (FIGC) said on Sunday.

Italy appoint their 2006 World Cup-winning midfielder Gennaro Gattuso as their manager, replacing Luciano Spalletti.

The worst kept secret in Italian football has just come to light: the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has officially appointed Gennaro Gattuso as national coach. "Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football, the azure shirt is for him like a second skin", declared the president of the FIGC, Gabriele Gravina in official media.