SpotlightFootball ItaliaUnverified source· 9 Sept 2026
2006 Italy heroes split: Gattuso, Inzaghi thrive; Grosso, De Rossi struggle
Twenty years after lifting the World Cup, Italy's 2006 heroes are finding coaching far tougher than football.
Coaches
Gattuso (Lazio), Inzaghi (Palermo), Grosso (Fiorentina), De Rossi (Genoa)
Lazio record
Won all three Serie A games, top with Inter and Roma
Palermo record
Lead Serie B with 9 points
Fiorentina
Grosso sacked after three losses
Genoa
De Rossi lost all three opening games
What happened. Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning players have had mixed coaching fortunes: Gattuso's Lazio and Inzaghi's Palermo top their leagues, while Grosso and De Rossi have lost all their opening matches.
- Grosso was sacked by Fiorentina after three straight Serie A defeats.
- De Rossi's Genoa also lost all three opening games, a major disappointment.
- Gattuso's Lazio beat Udine to join Inter and Roma at the top.
“Grosso and De Rossi combined six defeats in six matches. An unforeseen disaster for Fiorentina and a disappointment, nonetheless, a major one at Genoa.”
— La Gazzetta dello Sport
The article questions if being great footballers is enough to succeed as coaches, with mixed results so far.
In this story
F. Grosso
D. De RossiMore to read
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