Bonucci amongst names as Gattuso’s Italy staff revealed | OneFootball

Former Juventus and Milan captain Leonardo Bonucci will be working in Genaro Gattuso‘s Italy set-up, alongside long-time Gattuso collaborators such as assistant coach Luigi Riccio.

Bonucci is the most well-known of the appointments and since his retirement from playing football in 2024, has worked  in the coaching staff of the Italian U-20 national team. Bonucci and Gattuso worked together in the 2017-18 season, the centre-back joining Milan as captain where Gattuso was appointed head coach in November after Vincenzo Montella’s dismissal.

Leonardo Bonucci (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Things did not work out for the duo, with Milan finishing in sixth place and Bonucci returning to Turin in the summer of 2018. However, the former defender’s vast experience and knowledge may prove useful to Gattuso in fixing Italy’s recent woes.

Not just Bonucci, ‘Gigi’ Riccio – Gattuso’s right-hand man

Other members of Gattuso’s coaching set-up for Italy have a far closer working relationship with the head coach already.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 14: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Marseille, looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League match between Brighton & Hove Albion v Olympique de Marseille at American Express Community Stadium on December 14, 2023 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Luigi ‘Gigi’ Riccio is once again going to be working as assistant manager, having worked together at nearly every club Gattuso has managed – such as Milan, Napoli, Valencia, Marseille – but have known each other longer still, both moving from Perugia to Rangers together in 1997.

Riccio is also the godfather of Gattuso’s daughter and Gattuso the godfather of Riccio’s son.

Bruno Giovanni Dominici and Dino Tenderini both join the set-up, having worked with Gattuso in his time coaching in Milan’s youth system. Roberto Perrone will join as a goalkeeping coach and served under Gattuso at Napoli, Valencia and Marseille.