WORLD CUP winner Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed Italy head coach.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced the 47-year-old had been handed the reins following Luciano Spalletti’s departure.

A statement on the FIGC’s official website said: “The Italian Football Federation announces that it has appointed Gennaro Gattuso as head coach of the Italian national team.

“The Calabrian coach will be presented on Thursday June 19 at 11am at the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Rome.”

Spalletti revealed in the wake of a 3-0 World Cup qualifier defeat in Norway on June 6 that last Monday’s home clash with Moldova, which Italy won 2-0, would be his last at the helm.

Former Leicester boss Cladio Ranieri said he had rejected the job as the FIGC looked for Spalletti’s successor and it has ultimately turned to 73-cap midfielder Gattuso, a World Cup winner in 2006.

President Gabriele Gravina said: “Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football. The blue is like a second skin for him.

“His motivation, his professionalism and his experience will be essential to better face the next commitments of the national team.”

Gattuso enjoyed a glittering playing career which included spells with Rangers and Salernitana before a 13-year stint with AC Milan which brought two Champions League successes and two Serie A titles among a host of honours.

His managerial career to date has taken him back to Milan, Napoli, Valencia and Marseille and he left his most recent post at Croatian club Hajdu Split earlier this month.