There's a buzz building in Turin that could see a familiar, fiery face return to the Serie A dugout. Reports from Thursday suggest that former Italy national team head coach Gennaro Gattuso is being lined up for a potential three-year contract to take the reins at Torino. However, the Granata are keeping their options open, and the 48-year-old isn't the only name on their shortlist.
Gattuso has been without a club since stepping down from his role with the Azzurri back in April, following a disappointing failure to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time. It's been a while since we've seen the passionate midfielder-turned-manager in Italian football—his last Serie A stint ended when he left Napoli in 2021. Since then, his coaching journey has taken him across Europe, with spells at Valencia in LaLiga, Marseille in Ligue 1, Hajduk Split in Croatia, and, most recently, the Italian national team.
According to reports from Tuttosport, Torino are seriously considering bringing Gattuso on board for the 2026-27 campaign. The club's president, Urbano Cairo, is said to be a fan of the former World Cup winner, and sporting director Gianluca Petrachi shares that admiration. Interestingly, this isn't the first time Gattuso's name has been linked to the Torino job—the club reportedly explored the possibility both before and after Ivan Juric's tenure.
If Torino do decide to go down the Gattuso route, the reports suggest he'd be offered a three-year deal at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino. But the plot thickens: a return for Ivan Juric can't be ruled out either. The Croatian has been available since leaving Atalanta earlier this season, and Torino had previously considered bringing him back before he opted for the Bergamo move. That decision ultimately led the Granata to appoint Marco Baroni for the 2025-26 campaign instead.
With Gattuso's intensity and Serie A experience, and Juric's proven track record with the club, Torino fans have some intriguing possibilities to look forward to. For now, it's a waiting game to see which direction the Granata will take as they look to build for the future.