Former Italy boss Roberto Donadoni said Monday that he was happy and surprised that Gennaro Gattuso has been named the national team's new boss.

    "I'm happy for Gattuso," Donadoni told Rai radio.

    "Being the coach of the national team is a significant, great thing for anyone. Rino may not have a great deal of experience in these terms, but he has proven himself as a person".
    When asked if he was surprised that Gattuso got the job despite having had limited success during his coaching career, he replied: "in some ways, yes.
    "The image we all have in our minds of the (Italy) coach is of a slightly different profile," he continued.
    "Ranieri's name, for example, fit it in a certain sense.
    "We need to recover lost ground, because the other countries continue to grow and we remain behind.
    "The past does not guarantee anything, only the present can give us a better future".
    When asked about getting more young players in the national team, Donadoni stressed that it is primarily up to the clubs to nurture them to the level so that Gattuso is able to call them up.
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