Buffon Backs Gattuso Again After Italy’s Bosnia Elimination
Gianluigi Buffon has repeated that he would back Gennaro Gattuso for the Italy job again, insisting a missed penalty does not change his view of the coach.
The former Italy captain said he chose to step away after the Azzurri’s elimination by Bosnia, believing his departure was needed to let the national side move into a new phase.
Quick facts
- Buffon says he remains convinced Gattuso was the right appointment for Italy at that time.
- The former goalkeeper left after Italy’s defeat and elimination against Bosnia.
- He says one result or a single missed penalty will not alter his assessment of Gattuso.
- Buffon also discussed Juventus, several leading coaches and former team-mates Carlos Tevez and Dani Alves.
“After the elimination against Bosnia, I decided to leave and it worked out well for me,” Buffon said. “I supported Gattuso as coach and I would make the same choice today. He was the right man for the situation we were in. A missed penalty will not make me change my mind.”
Buffon’s endorsement rests on Gattuso’s personality and commitment to the role. The 2006 World Cup winner knows the former midfielder well from their Italy days and remains firm on his leadership credentials.
He also reflected on the wider Italian coaching landscape, offering views on Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Roberto Mancini, Cesc Fabregas and Gian Piero Gasperini.
On Juventus, Buffon revisited misunderstandings with the club’s board in 2010 while addressing the current problems facing the Turin side. He also spoke warmly of Tevez and Dani Alves, two former colleagues from successful Juventus teams.
What happens next is the continued effort by both Juventus and Italy to solve deeper performance and structural issues. Buffon remains an influential figure around the national-team environment, and his support for Gattuso has not shifted.
