Gattuso becomes the first choice for the new Italian coach! Is it a failure to give up, or a youthful revolution?

According to the All Market Network, Gattuso is getting closer and closer to becoming the next head coach of the Italian national team. Gattuso will meet face-to-face with Italian Football Association President Gravina. In the shadow of two consecutive World Cup absences, the Blues bet on a coach who has been in charge of nine teams but has never coached completely for more than two years. The Italian Football Association's choice caused a polar shock - the fan forum was instantly infuriated, some denounced this as "totally give up treatment", while others firmly believed that this was "a signal flare for the youthful revolution."

The decline of Italian football is already a bloody fact: the national team missed the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in a row, and the Serie A team missed the Champions League trophy for 15 years. What is even more suffocating is the collapse of the youth training system - the playing time of Italian U21 players in the Serie A is only a dismal 2.8%, and local players only account for 31.6% of the group over the age of 21. When young talents from Germany and England shone in the Champions League, Italian stars fell collectively in the gambling scandal: the three young internationals who carry hope, Faccioli, Tonali and Zagnolo, faced bans for gambling, which made the already fragile talent reserve worse. Under the crisis, Football Association Chairman Gravina's anxiety was beyond words: "These efforts are futile if the club culture does not change." The reform plan he promoted was deadlocked due to the league's "right to agree". At this time, the Italian team was like a ship that lost its helmsman in a storm, and urgently needed a navigator who could build consensus.

Gatuso's coaching resume is full of controversial thorns. From AC Milan to Naples, to Valencia and Marseille, he has never gotten rid of the label of "transitional coach" - his winning rate is barely maintained at more than 50% in Milan and Naples, and he fell to the 30% range when coaching small and medium-sized teams. Some fans' sharp comments pointed directly at the pain point: "As a coach, Gattuso is not even considered a final player."

However, the other side of the coin is his spiritual totem significance as a member of the 2006 World Cup champion and his special bond with young players. During his brief coaching period in Milan, he opposed the opposition and used rookies such as Cutrone and Calabria. This courage is exactly what Italy, which is currently invincible, desires. More importantly, Gattuso's football philosophy emphasizes the intensity of confrontation and tactical discipline - this is the most missing element of the Blue-clothed Legion, which was criticized for being "soft waist" in the Mancini era. Facing the strong leadership of Norway in the World Cup, what Italy needs is not a gorgeous pass and control, but an iron will that can make the opponent frightened.

Break the can or the youthful revolution?

Examining the selection logic of the Italian Football Association, three clues emerged.

People's priority in spiritual reshaping: When Pioli refused the invitation and Ranieri chose to stay in Rome, the Football Association found spiritual leaders in the 2006 Golden Generation and became a natural choice. Although De Rossi's success in Rome is more convincing, his club is more ties with each other, and the Croatian Hayduke club coached by Gatuso is obviously easier to let go.

Youth Training Icebreaking Test Ground: AC Milan has taken the lead in turning to the localization strategy, recalling Gabya, signing Terracino, and planning to form a team B to compete in Serie C. This paradigm migration is seeking echo at the national team level - if Gattuso takes office, it will inevitably accelerate the transfer of power between the core of the Mesozoic generation such as Barrera (26), Bastoni (26), Cambiaso (25), and pave the way for supernovas such as Kamada (18).

Financial realistic considerations: Saudi Jeddah national once offered Gattuso an annual salary of tens of millions, but the national team coach position is undoubtedly more emotionally appealing. For Italian football, which is deeply involved in losses, cost-effectiveness is crucial.

The Italian Football Association's choice is not so much a vote of confidence to Gattuso, but rather a redemption of the 2006 Golden Generation Football Generation. When the technical flow route failed in Spaletti's hands, they chose to restart "Iron Blood DNA" - this was not only a stress response to missing the World Cup in a row, but also a desperate bet on the localization revival.