Gennaro Gattuso (photo below) is a former professional Italian footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. Between 2000 and 2010 played for the national team of Italy. He currently works as the head youth coach at the Milan club. During his career, the player played for the Rossoneri from 1999 to 2012. During this period of time has become a real football star.
Play style
Throughout his career, midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has achieved great football successes. He played in all positions of the midfield line - as a winger, as well as a central, reference and attacking midfielder. Despite his modest technical skills, he remained a key player for AC Milan for thirteen seasons in Serie A.
Its strengths include high speed, aggressive selection style, physical strength, powerful accurate strike, lightning fast reaction and excellent positional flair in attack and defense. In his prime, he was repeatedly recognized as one of the best midfielders in world football. His energetic and fighting box-to-box style (that is, his ability to keep up with defensive and offensive), as well as his speed and tactical awareness, allowed him to form an invincible tandem with Andrea Pirlo, the best playmaker in Italian football. Together, they took apart the tactical game plan of the rivals, both at the club level and as part of the Italian national team.
Thanks to his perseverance and work from Italian fans, he received the nickname Ringhio (translated into Russian means “roar”), he was also called Reno. The fanatic love for the Italian football player was also explained by his lack of discipline - Gennaro often spat on sports etiquette and threw himself into a fight with rivals who violated the rules (for rifle attacks and aggression he received the nickname Rhino and Gladiator). One has only to recall the fight with Tottenham head coach Joe Jordan, a go-ahead in the face of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the public humiliation of Christian Poulsen.
In addition to his competitive football abilities, Gennaro stood out for his spirit and leadership in the club.
Biography
Gennaro Gattuso was born on January 9, 1978 in the city of Corigliano Calabro, Italy. He began his football career at the Academy of Perugia, in which he played from 1990 to 1997.
In the 1996/1997 season, he played for the adult team Perugia, in which he held 10 official fights as part of Serie A.
In 1997, Gattuso was sold to the Scottish Rangers. Head coach Walter Smith often used the Italian in his composition at different positions in the midfield (during the season he played 34 matches and scored three goals).
With the advent of a new coach, Dick Advocaat, Gennaro was less likely to get into the base, and in October 1998 he was completely sold to the Salernitana Club from Serie A for £ 4 million. Despite the good statistical and practical indicators of the player, Salernitana flew to Italy's lower division (Serie B). The talents of the young Gattuso were not unnoticed, and soon Milan became interested in him. In total, in the 1998/1999 season he played 25 fights.
Gennaro Gattuso's career at Milan
In the summer of 1999, it was bought by Milan for 8 million euros. As part of the Rossoneri, he made his debut on September 15 in a match against London's Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League (draw 0-0). In the very first season he became a regular base player. In Serie A he made his debut in the Milan derby on October 24 against Inter. During the match, Gattuso demonstrated excellent midfield skills. Most of the attacks of Ronaldo, who at that time was considered the best football player in the world, were stopped thanks to the clear play of Gennaro.
During successful performances as part of Milan, he established partnerships with Andrea Pirlo. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti placed these players side by side, making a high-quality bunch in the midfield. As a result, this duo demonstrated the best “creative” skills in attack and became the best in Europe. Pirlo was an excellent playmaker, and Gattuso was the best opornik who insured the attacks of his compatriot.
As part of the “red and black devils,” Gennaro won ten trophies, including two Scudetto, one national cup, two Super Cups, two victories in the Champions League, two UEFA Super Cups, and the title of Club World Cup.
On September 26, 2006, footballer Gennaro Gattuso played his 300th match for the club against the French Lille in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. In February 2007, Reno extended the contract with Milan until 2011. After this period, the contract was extended for another season.
On May 11, 2012, Gennaro publicly announced that he would not renew the contract with the club, which ends June 30, and that he would leave the club at the end of the season.
Season in the Swiss "Sion"
On June 15, 2012, Gennaro Gattuso joined the composition of the Swiss club Sion from the city of the same name. Initially, the Italian wanted to return to the Scottish Rangers, but the deal was disrupted due to the financial difficulties of the club.
As part of the “Sion” played only one season - spent 27 matches and scored one goal. Here he acted as a playing coach, convincing the club's leadership that he could create a competitive team for the Basel, the leader in the Swiss championship. However, for unsatisfactory results (only 10 points in 11 rounds), he was removed from the position of coach, but remained a player of Sion. At the end of the season, he announced the end of his career as a football player.
International career: world champion 2006
Since 1995, he represented the Italian national team at the youth level until the age of 18 - he played at the European Youth Championship, in which he became a silver medalist (defeat in the final from Spain 4-1).
Gattuso also represented his national team at the Euro 2000 U21. Here he, as part of his team, became the owner of gold medals (in the final, the Czech Republic was defeated with a score of 2-1).
At the adult level, he made his debut on February 23, 2000 in a home friendly match against Scotland. November 15 of the same year scored in his statistics the first goal in a friendly match against England (1-0).
Between 2000 and 2010 represented the Italian team at all major international tournaments. In 2006, he became the world champion (final with France, victory in the penalty shoot-out). In total, he played 73 matches for the Blue Team and scored one goal.
Coaching at Palermo
After the unsuccessful experience of a playing coach at Sion, Gennaro Gattuso joined the coaches at Palermo. On June 19, 2013, Maurizio Dzamparini confirmed that Rino Gattuso will become the head coach of the “Eagles” who were classified before Serie B. Luigi Riccio, with whom he collaborated in Sion, became an assistant to the legendary ex-soccer player.
However, the coaching experience at Palermo was short-lived - Gattuso was fired on September 25 of the same year due to unsatisfactory results (7 points in six rounds of Series B).
The reign season in the Greek "OFI"
On June 5, 2014, Gennaro Gattuso was appointed head coach of the OFI club from the Greek Super League. At that time, the club had serious financial problems - for several months the players had not been paid salaries. At press conferences and interviews, Reno said he expected 100 percent return from his players, despite the club’s financial difficulties.
On October 26, 2014, Gattuso announced his resignation from the post of coach, after losing a principle match against the Asteras Tripoli club with a score of 3-2. He argued his actions by the fact that it is impossible to work normally in the club amid a constant financial problem. However, the next day the club management convinced him to stay. After staying here as a coach for another two months, he resigned.
Coach career at Pisa Club
On August 20, 2015, Gennaro was appointed coach of the Italian Pisa from Lega Pro. During the season, the Italian organized a tactical game of “black and blue”. On June 12, 2016 he brought Pisa to Serie B, after a home victory over Foggia with a score of 5-3.
July 31, 2016, unexpectedly resigned, citing internal problems at the club that prevented him from working calmly. A month later he returned to the club and became his head coach.
Coach youth "Milan"
Gennaro Gattuso is currently the head coach of the Milan Primavera club (youth squad).
Personal life: wife, children, hobbies
Married to Monica Romano, a Scottish woman of Italian descent. He met his future beloved during his football career at the Rangers. Two children were born in the marriage - daughter Gabriella (born June 20, 2004) and son Francesco (born November 8, 2007). Monica Romano is the sister of a Los Angeles correspondent, Carla Romande, who works on the GMTV channel.
In January 2010, Gennaro Gattuso took up entrepreneurship - he opened his fish store in his hometown of Corigliano Calabro.