National team, Gattuso: 'I leave with pain in my heart'

After the third consecutive exclusion from the World Cup of Italy, the FIGC and Gennaro Gattuso have mutually agreed to terminate the contract that bound the coach from Calabria to the bench of the national football team.

This was announced in a note by the Federcalcio, which 'thanks Gattuso and all his staff for the seriousness, dedication and passion with which they have worked over the last nine months and wishes them the best of success for the continuation of their careers'.

"With pain in my heart, not having reached the goal we had set for ourselves, I consider my experience on the bench of the national team to be over," said Gattuso. "The Azzurra jersey is the most precious asset that exists in football, and for this reason it is right to facilitate future technical evaluations right from the start. I would like to thank president Gabriele Gravina and Gianluigi Buffon, and with them all the collaborators of the Federation, for the trust and support that they have always guaranteed me. It has been an honour to be able to lead the national team and to do so with a group of young players who have shown commitment and attachment to the jersey. But the biggest thanks go to the fans, to all the Italians who in these months have never failed to show their love and support for the national team. Always with the blue in our hearts'.

'I would like to thank Gattuso once again,' said Gravina, who has also resigned, 'because, besides being a special person, as coach he has made a valuable contribution, managing in just a few months to bring enthusiasm back around the national team. He has transmitted to the players and to the entire country a great pride in the Azzurri shirt'.