Lazio eliminated from Coppa Italia in the first round

Coach Gennaro Gattuso began his official duties with Lazio with a first-round exit from the Coppa Italia, suffering a 2-0 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico against second-tier visitors Mantova. Lazio, the runner-up in last year’s edition and seven-time cup champions, had lost the final last season to Inter 2-0 in May.

Gattuso, 48, took charge of Lazio last month, four months after stepping down as head coach of the Italian national team following failure to qualify for the World Cup finals for the third consecutive time. This came after the four-time world champions lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties (1-4, 1-1) in the European playoff final.

Gattuso, one of Milan’s standout players between 1999 and 2011, winning the Serie A title with them in 2004 and 2011, and also claiming two Champions League titles (2003 and 2007), has yet to replicate the same level of success in his managerial career.

The former midfielder and 2006 World Cup winner managed Milan, the club he adores, from November 2017 to May 2019, without achieving success. The same pattern repeated at Napoli (2021–2023) and French side Marseille (2023–2024), among several other clubs he has overseen.

Lazio, whose angry fans have clashed with the club’s owner during home matches, is the only elite club among the 12 competing in this round of the Serie A, which sees teams eliminated from the start.