Leonardo Bonucci shares insights on the contributions of Gennaro Gattuso to the Italy national team, his experiences with coaches Max Allegri and Antonio Conte, and his aspirations to become a coach himself.
The former defender for Juventus and Milan is now a member of Gattuso’s coaching staff and is gearing up for the upcoming World Cup play-offs.
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The first challenge will be against Northern Ireland at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo, followed by a match against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina for qualification to the tournament.
Bonucci on Italy’s Vision with Gattuso
Members of the Italy national team, including head coach Gennaro Gattuso, Gianluigi Buffon, and Leonardo Bonucci, visit Atalanta training, directed by Ivan Juric.
“Choosing to play in Bergamo was our decision because it was where we had our first match in charge, and the atmosphere, adrenaline, and passion were simply unforgettable,” Bonucci stated in an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio.
“It felt like there were 23,000 supporters on the pitch with us. When Rino was asked about the best venue for the play-off, he believed this was the right choice.”
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“I can’t recall an atmosphere like that for an Italy match outside of a major tournament. We need to give 110%, and while it would be great not to feel the constant pressure of needing a result at all costs, we should instead tap into the enthusiasm of our goal.”
“When you embrace that mindset, fatigue vanishes.”
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gennaro Gattuso, Italy’s Head Coach, directs players during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Gattuso took over as the new head coach of Italy following the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti, just two games into the World Cup qualifying campaign.
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“He makes everyone feel valued,” Bonucci explained.
“One of my responsibilities is to prepare set-piece strategies for both offense and defense. It’s not only Arsenal that does this, you know…”
Another of Bonucci’s roles involves traveling to observe players, ensuring constant communication with various clubs.
“We communicate with fitness coaches almost weekly, and Gattuso reaches out to players after matches. We continuously stay updated on training and nutritional protocols. Every day, we brainstorm ideas on the squad for upcoming fixtures.”
Gattuso recently hosted several potential Italy team players for dinner, recognizing it as an important practice when training camps cannot occur.
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“There’s a lot of enthusiasm surrounding this approach. Gattuso is a leader, a great individual, and he believes it’s crucial to stay connected and let them know who we are.”
Leonardo Bonucci (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
Reflecting on his own career, Bonucci draws inspiration from current Milan head coach Max Allegri, with whom he worked at Juventus.
“I believe Allegri possesses remarkable intuition. He often identified players’ strengths and positioned them in roles that initially seemed odd but later proved to be brilliant.”
“Allegri is also exceptional in his interactions with players; he consistently maintains a positive attitude and avoids negativity.”
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“In tactical matters, the coach who impacted me the most was Antonio Conte. When he came to Juventus, he started with a 4-2-4 formation, transitioned to a 4-3-3, and ultimately solidified the 3-5-2 system that we became adept in.”
“This diversity in tactics prepared us for various scenarios and expanded our tactical understanding. I learned from Rino during my time at Milan, as well as from Giampiero Ventura at Bari; I’ve been fortunate to work with so many great minds.”
“I do have aspirations to become a coach one day, and they have certainly inspired that ambition in me.”