Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso is being linked with a sensational return to Rangers — the club where he spent one unforgettable season as a young player. The 47-year-old, who took charge of the Italian national team in June 2025, is currently focused on steering the Azzurri through the upcoming World Cup play-offs in March.
Rangers recently hired Danny Rohl after parting ways with Russell Martin, but some voices around the game believe Gattuso could be a future fit for the Ibrox hot seat.
Gattuso tipped for Rangers return
Gattuso has made an encouraging start to life as Italy manager, winning five out of six matches. However, his team still finished behind a rampant Norway side led by Erling Haaland, suffering a heavy 4–1 defeat in the decisive match. Italy will now battle Northern Ireland in their play-off semi-final on March 26, 2026, with the winner facing either Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina for a spot at the tournament.
If he succeeds in taking Italy to the World Cup — a competition they famously haven’t reached since 2014 — Gattuso’s reputation will only strengthen. Italy haven’t reached the knockout rounds since their triumph in 2006, when Gattuso was a key member of the squad.
With his profile potentially rising even further, a move back into club management could eventually be on the table. And Ibrox is one of the places where his name has repeatedly resurfaced whenever the Rangers job is vacant.
Lafferty urges Rangers to appoint Gattuso in the future
Kyle Lafferty — who both played with Gattuso at FC Sion and was coached by him during a spell at Palermo — has publicly backed the Italian to take charge at Rangers one day. Speaking to I Love Palermo Calcio (as relayed by Sport Witness), the ex-Rangers striker said he would love to see the “great man” return to Glasgow as manager.
For now, both Gattuso and Rohl appear settled in their current roles, but the idea of the former midfield warrior returning to Ibrox continues to hover in the background.
Gattuso’s managerial journey
Gattuso’s current role is his first step into international management after overseeing nine club teams, including high-profile spells at AC Milan and Napoli. His connection to Rangers stems from his breakout season in 1997/98, when he joined the club at just 19 years old — a campaign still remembered fondly by supporters.
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