Gattuso leaves Italy job after World Cup failure

Gennaro Gattuso has left his role asItalyboss by mutual consent and "with pain in his heart," three days after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive men's World Cup.

TheAzzurrisuffered a penalty shootout defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuesday's playoff final in Zenica, prompting Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina and head of delegation Gianluigi Buffon, the formerJuventusgoalkeeper, to step down the next day.

Head coach Gattuso, 48, followed suit Friday after taking responsibility for Italy managing to finish only second in their qualifying group, six points behind Norway, leading to a victorious first playoff round against Northern Ireland but then to the fateful showdown in Bosnia.

The formerValencia,Marseilleand Hajduk Split boss had been given a contract until the end of this summer's World Cup, with an automatic renewal until 2028 if Italy returned to soccer's biggest stage.

"With pain in my heart, having failed to achieve the target we set ourselves, I am bringing an end to my experience as national team boss," he told the FIGC website.

"The blue shirt is the most special one that exists in football and for that reason I need to leave it in the hands of a new technical team going into the future.

"I must thank president Gravina and Buffon, and all those I've worked with at the federation, for the faith and support they have always given me. It was an honor to lead the national team and I did it with a group of lads who always showed fight and devotion to the shirt. The biggest thank you goes to the fans and to all the Italians who never stopped supporting us, even in these last few months."