The Italian national team is currently undergoing significant upheaval following their unexpected defeat to Bosnia in a penalty shootout, a result that once again sees them miss out on a spot in the World Cup.
This latest setback has triggered a wave of changes within the federation. With coach Rino Gattuso’s tenure seemingly drawing to a close and FIGC chief Gabriele Gravina already having stepped down, legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has now also announced his resignation from his position as the Azzurri’s delegation chief, a role in which he worked closely with the first team.
Buffon issued a statement explaining his decision, emphasizing that his resignation, submitted immediately after the match against Bosnia, was an “urgent act” that “came from deep within me.” He described it as “as spontaneous as the tears and the ache in my heart that I know I share with all of you.” He also mentioned that he was initially asked to take some time for proper reflection before making a final decision.
However, Buffon now feels it is the appropriate moment to depart, especially in light of President Gravina’s own resignation. He stated, “Now that President Gravina has chosen to step back, I feel free to do what I feel is a responsible act, because, despite my sincere belief that I have built so much in terms of team spirit… with Rino Gattuso and all my collaborators, in the very short time available to the national team, the main objective was to bring Italy back to the World Cup. And we didn’t succeed.”
He further clarified his commitment during his time in the role, asserting that he gave his utmost to connect all levels of the team. Buffon explained, “I have tried to interpret my role by putting all my energy into it, examining all sectors to be a link, a link for dialogue and synergy between the various youth teams, striving to structure, together with the various managers, a project that starts with the very young and reaches all the way up to the U21 national team.”
Amidst these widespread changes, it remains uncertain whether Italy will seek a direct replacement for Buffon’s specific role. It is clear, however, that the federation is preparing for a series of major new appointments. The ultimate impact of these significant shifts on the future of Italian football is yet to be fully determined.
