Jose Mourinho was in the running to become Italy’s new national team coach. He’s currently coaching Fenerbahçe. Italy’s soccer federation had asked Claudio Ranieri, but he said no.
Mourinho seemed like a good fit. He’s had success in the past. The idea of hiring him came from Adidas, the team’s main sponsor. They thought he could help Italy qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Italy hasn’t been to the World Cup since 2014. If they don’t make it, they’ll lose money. Adidas was willing to help pay for Mourinho’s coaching fees.
But Gianluigi Buffon, Italy’s former goalkeeper and current team delegate, said no to Mourinho. He wanted someone else to lead the team. Buffon thinks Italy needs a coach who can bring new life to the team. Italy won the European Championship in 2020, but they’ve struggled in the World Cup. They haven’t made it past the group stage since 2006.
Buffon wasn’t the only one against hiring Mourinho. Fenerbahçe, Mourinho’s current team, would have made it hard for him to leave. They would have wanted millions of euros to let him go. In the end, Italy hired Gennaro Gattuso as their new coach. He’s a former player who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, just like Buffon.
Why Italy Chose Gattuso Over Mourinho
Italy’s soccer federation had a tough decision to make. They needed a new coach to help them qualify for the World Cup. Mourinho seemed like a good choice, but Buffon and Fenerbahçe got in the way. Gattuso was the better choice in the end. He knows Italian soccer and has experience playing for the national team.
The Adidas Factor
Adidas played a big role in trying to bring Mourinho to Italy. They’re the team’s main sponsor and want to see them succeed. They thought Mourinho could help Italy qualify for the World Cup and bring in more money. But it didn’t work out. Italy has to move on and focus on the future with Gattuso as their new coach.
Italy has a lot of work to do if they want to make it back to the World Cup. They need to improve their team and find a way to win. Gattuso is their new coach, and he’s ready to take on the challenge. He’ll do his best to bring Italy back to the top of international soccer.