World Cup winner Lippi backs Gattuso’s Italy: ‘One of my best students, reminds me of me’

Marcello Lippi has sent a heartfelt message of support to Gennaro Gattuso on the eve of Italy’s World Cup playoff semi-final against Northern Ireland, backing his former player to end the Azzurri’s painful absence from the global stage.

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The legendary coach, who led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006 with Gattuso as one of the cornerstones of his squad, took to the pages of La Gazzetta dello Sport to offer an unusually personal and emotional tribute to his former midfielder turned manager.

“I embrace you, Rino,” Lippi wrote. “You were one of my best students, we won a World Cup together, we were a team. On the touchline you remind me a lot of me: in character, in your relationship with players, in your vision. You remind me of… Lippi.”

Ex Italy coach Lippi: ‘Gattuso deserves the best’

The praise from a man widely regarded as one of the greatest Italian coaches of all time will carry enormous weight for Gattuso, who has worked tirelessly in recent months to rebuild a national team that has missed the last two World Cups.

Lippi was unequivocal in his belief that his former pupil deserves success.

“You merit the best,” he wrote. “You merit qualification for the immense passion you have always put into everything, on the pitch, as a coach, in life.”

He concluded with a rallying cry that will resonate with the entire nation ahead of Thursday’s 21:00 local time kick-off at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo. “We are all with you, and we go to the World Cup together. We will make it.”