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Gennaro GattusoItalian football player and coach.
Date of Birth: 09.01.1978
Country:  Italy |
Content:
Biography of Gennaro Gattuso
Gennaro Gattuso, born on January 9, 1978, in Calabria, is an Italian footballer and coach. He grew up in a family immersed in the football spirit, thanks to his father Franco, who was a former football player himself, playing as a striker. At the age of four, Gattuso received his first "football" gift from his father on Christmas, a ball and a complete football kit. Although it was not the uniform of a famous team, it was uniquely his, and he proudly wore it while playing with his friends. For many years, his playing field would be the beach and the meadow, with tree trunks serving as goals, but his passion and imagination always led him to dream of playing on the "San Siro" stadium.
Early Career
After being rejected by Bologna, Gattuso was accepted into Perugia at the age of twelve. He promised his friends that he would not return until he achieved some level of success. He trained relentlessly and dedicated himself fully to his development. At the age of seventeen, he was selected for the youth national team, where he received his first award as the "Best Player" in 1997. Five years later, on December 22, 1996, Gennaro Ivan Gattuso made his debut in Serie A.
Move to Glasgow Rangers and Milan
In April of the following year, Gattuso moved to Scotland with a four-year contract with Glasgow Rangers. Initially, he could only train and was unable to play due to the timing of the transfer window. During the challenging sixty days, Gattuso doubted whether he made the right decision leaving his homeland. However, Scotland embraced him warmly, and the fans believed in him and praised him, although he felt that they overrated him and he was not deserving of such honors. It was in Glasgow that he met his future wife, Monica. With the arrival of Dick Advocaat at Rangers, Gattuso was pushed to the sidelines, prompting him to leave the team.
After speaking with his new agent, Andrea D'Amico, Gattuso realized that he had limited options in Italy and had no desire to return. However, the final decision was made by Monica, who left university to move with him to Salerno. Thus, Gattuso had no choice but to return to the Italian championship. He became the most expensive player in Salernitana's history, but after a few months, he packed his bags to join Roma, only to receive a last-minute offer from AC Milan. Gattuso chose Milan over Rome.
Charity Work and Family
On December 17, 2003, Gennaro Gattuso established a foundation called "To Children Less Lucky Than Me" with the aim of supporting his football school in Calabria. The foundation also addresses the problems and difficulties associated with living in this region, where the standard of living lags far behind that of major cities in Italy. Gattuso's main goal was to open a school for children who dream of dedicating their lives to football but lack the opportunities to move to "football" cities. The Gennaro Gattuso School, "Forward, Kids," aims to instill the training program, skills, and style of the AC Milan team. Gattuso is not the only one who wanted to fill this gap; former AC Milan professionals such as Francesco Zagatti, Ambrogio Pelagalli, Gino Maldini, and Danilo Tedoldi are part of the coaching staff. The school also has a medical team led by Professor Massimo Verchelloni, psychologist Evy Crotti, and Dr. Alberto Mani. To date, the foundation has raised over half a million euros, with the majority coming from the sale of Gattuso's book, "In Rino Veritas." Gattuso also intends to open schools throughout Italy, especially in areas where such centers are lacking.
Gattuso, a devoted family man, spends his free time at home with his wife, daughter, and dog. He received the news of his daughter's birth before the match against Belgium at the 2004 European Championship in Portugal. He sought permission from Giovanni Trapattoni to leave the tournament and promised to return the following day. Gattuso proudly watched the match from the bench, as he was suspended, and immediately flew back to Italy after the game. In an interview, Monica admitted that at home, he is a "sweet kitten," and she plays the role of the "tamer." Gattuso has a weakness for homemade tiramisu and willingly swaps salads for Nutella. He hates credit cards and fast food. His favorite clothing brands are Armani and Dolce & Gabbana, with the latter being a sponsor of AC Milan.
