Gattuso resigns as Italy coach after World Cup flop

Rome: Gennaro Gattuso quit as Italy coach on Friday, as the Azzurri s failure to reach a third straight World Cup continued to send shockwaves through...

Rome: Gennaro Gattuso quit as Italy coach on Friday, as the Azzurri's failure to reach a third straight World Cup continued to send shockwaves through Italian football.

A World Cup winner in 2006, Gattuso leaves after less than a year in charge of Italy, a team which has fallen far behind historic rivals like France and Spain in the last two decades.

Defeat on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuesday's qualification play-off final ended up costing Gattuso his job, as the man who hired him also stepped down as president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

"With a heavy heart, and having fallen short of the goal we set ourselves, I feel my time as head coach of the national team has come to an end," Gattuso said in a statement.

"The Azzurri shirt is the most precious thing in football, and for that reason it's only right to make way immediately for the federation's future decisions.