Italy manager Gianluigi Buffon confirmed on Saturday that Gennaro Gattuso, 47, is set to succeed Luciano Spalletti as head coach.

On June 8, local time, Spalletti announced his resignation after Italy lost to Norway. He said at the time: "Last night, the president informed me that I would be relieved of my post as head coach of the national team. I deeply regret this: I never intend to give up, especially when the team is in a difficult situation. I would rather stay in my position and continue to do my job. However, I must also accept reality - not only out of respect for the president, but also based on the journey we have taken together, the achievements we have made and the support he has always given me."

With Spalletti's departure, his successor has become the focus of public attention. Claudio Ranieri, Stefano Pioli, Roberto Mancini, Daniele De Rossi, Fabio Cannavaro and others were once considered strong contenders for the Italian coaching position, but Gattuso finally stood out. According to multiple Italian media reports, Gattuso is about to get a 1+1 year contract.

Regarding Gattuso's appointment, Buffon said on the Rai 2 program: "We have been pushing forward with the relevant work, and now only the final details are missing. The president and all colleagues in the Football Association have been very busy in recent days and have experienced various situations in the process. I believe that we finally made the best choice."

"We need to regroup and, above all, push ourselves. Most importantly, avoid situations that damage Italy's image. There is a big difference between 'losing' and 'losing in a certain way', and the latter can be avoided with some small adjustments."

Gattuso had a brilliant career as a player, winning two Champions League titles, one Club World Cup, two Serie A titles, two European Super Cups, one Italian Cup, and two Italian Super Cups with AC Milan. He also played 73 times for the Italian national team and won the 2006 World Cup with the team.

After retiring in 2013, Gattuso turned to coaching. He has coached Palermo, OFI Crete, Pisa, AC Milan, Naples, Valencia, Marseille and Hajduk, leading the team to a record of 167 wins, 102 draws and 108 losses, and brought Naples an Italian Cup championship.