About a year ago, while he was still in charge of the Italian national team, Gennaro Gattuso vowed to move far away from Italy if the Azzurri failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.Their qualifying campaign turned into a nightmare, culminating in defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the decisive match.But it's not as if Gattuso was unfamiliar with failure in management. Unlike his playing days, during which he was an important member of one of the strongest teams in football history at AC Milan, his coaching career had been a far cry from his on-pitch achievements.21.45: (1.58) Wolverhampton (4.00) Portsmouth (5.90)He cut his teeth in management at Sion, Palermo, OFI Crete, and Pisa, clubs where expectations were relatively modest.However, when he got his chance at the highest level, his managerial reputation began to suffer. He tried to make a success of his spells at Milan, Napoli, and Fiorentina, while also attempting to help Valencia, Olympique Marseille, and Hajduk Split emerge from their own crises.Gattuso celebrates the win against Juventus (©Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)The end result? Just one trophy – the Coppa Italia with the Neapolitans – and plenty of painful lessons along the way.The slap in the face against Bosnia felt like a wake-up call for Gattuso. The ultimate crushing setback that would make everyone reconsider their choices and wonder whether they were cut out for management after all.Anyone, that is, except the stubborn Gattuso."They were amazing… The beauty of Lazio is the simplicity of it all." @MikeGrella10 loves what he's seeing from Lazio as their incredible start to the season under Gennaro Gattuso continues 🔵 https://t.co/EWkrW36VXf— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 18, 2026 He took some time off and then reappeared at Lazio. At first, another Italian giant, but actually, the side that is experiencing serious struggles.The club's transfer activity had virtually ground to a halt following a breach of financial fair play regulations, while the supporters were at loggerheads with owner and president Claudio Lotito.Key players like Alessio Romagnoli and Mario Gila left the club, while Lazio's new arrivals were largely unfamiliar names, with the exception of Davide Frattesi, who joined on loan from Inter. In total, the Eagles spent just €22.3 million in the past June Transfer Window!Nobody to see Lazio's excellent startYet, just as in mathematics, when two negatives make a positive, things started moving in the right direction for the Eagles.Gattuso found the right role for some overlooked players, such as Reda Belahyane, Oliver Provstgaard, and Christos Mandas, bringing out the best in them. Meanwhile, the club's old guard – including the captain Mattia Zaccagni, Gustav Isaksen, Tijjani Noslin, Nuno Tavares, Kenneth Taylor, Manuel Lazzari, Danilo Cataldi, and Adam Marusic – helped turn the squad into a cohesive unit.The result? Lazio have enjoyed the best start to the Serie A season in their 126-year history and are now sitting joint-top of the table alongside Inter!19 – Per la prima volta nella sua storia, la #Lazio ha raccolto 19 punti dopo le prime sette partite giocate di un torneo di #SerieA, grazie a sei vittorie e un pareggio. Ringhio. #JuventusLazio https://t.co/CPTuos9Ep5— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) October 18, 2026 With six wins and a draw – in a game in which they squandered a 2-0 lead against Milan – the Eagles have shocked everyone, themselves included. And they've done it all without their fans' backing at home, with supporters boycotting matches in protest against Lotito.Last night, Lazio demolished Juventus in Turin for the first time in nine years, leaving Gattuso understandably delighted with his players."Today, it's all down to the lads. We're making great progress with the staff, and we're doing well this week. We've created a great family, and the club deserves our compliments. We've made a small transfer market, looking for good players and building a great team," the tactician told DAZN after the match, as quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport.Juventus humiliated at home! Lazio deliver a 3-0 statement to stay topStill, Gattuso reflected on his often painful journey as a manager, one that seems to have shaped him."A few years ago, I didn't want to coach anymore. I had so many experiences as a footballer and then I'd come home with a stomachache, but then I started to work my way through it." "This is the secret: my experiences abroad have helped me a lot because each of them has their own personality, and management is important to listen to them and help them perform at their best," he said.After Gennaro Gattuso failed to qualify for the World Cup as Italy manager, he joined Lazio. The club has been a mess, with fans’ protests against the owner meaning they boast the lowest stadium occupancy rate in Europe. Meanwhile… Gattuso has: – Beaten Juventus 3-0 away – Taken Lazio to joint top – Recorded Lazio’s best start EVER to a Serie A season 🇮🇹👏— Sleeper Football (@SleeperFooty) October 19, 2026 For now, Lazio and Gattuso have stunned the football world, although many will expect their impressive run to come to an end sooner or later. After all, two eternal underachievers aren't supposed to make a winning combination.Or are they?Lazio and their boss will give us the answer.SERIE A – MATCHDAY 7FridayFrosinone – Sassuolo 4-2 (3-2)/Calo 9, Raimondo 26,30,57 – Berardi 15, Thorstved 37/SaturdayVenezia – Napoli 1-0 (0-0)/Adams 49/Bologna – Inter 1-3 (1-1)/Pobega 10 – Thuram 44, Augusto 69, Bonny 83/Roma – Genoa 2-0 (0-0)/Castro 50, Lulli 68/SundayUdinese – Lecce 0-3 (0-2)/Gaspar 11, Ndri 33, Siebert 86/Fiorentina – Como 1-3 (1-2)/Pongracic 42 – Liberali 32, Paz 36, Douvikas 56/Milan – Atalanta 3-2 (2-0)/Ramos 24 pen, Rabiot 42, Gila 58 – Gaetano 66, Krstovic 81/Juventus – Lazio 0-3 (0-1)/Provstgaard 37, Isaksen 66, Dele-Bashiru 89/Monday19.30: (2.45) Monza (3.30) Cagliari (2.95)21.45: (3.00) Parma (3.15) Torino (2.50)***odds are subject to change***
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