As a player, Gattuso mainly played in the centre as a defensive midfielder , although he was also capable of playing out wide. Gattuso's talismanic midfield partnership with playmaker Andrea Pirlo , both at club and international level, played a key role in Italy's World Cup victory in , as well as Milan's domestic, European and international successes during the mids.
Despite not being blessed with notable technical skills, Gattuso's pace, strength and work-rate complemented and supported Pirlo's composed, creative playing style. In June , he led Pisa to Serie B promotion. He later coached both the youth side and the first team of his former club Milan between and , before being appointed as manager of Napoli later that year, where he won his first title as a manager, the —20 Coppa Italia.
He then had further short managerial stints at Fiorentina , Valencia and Marseille , before taking over at Croatian club Hajduk Split in June Gattuso was born in Corigliano Calabro , Italy.
He started his career with Umbrian side Perugia , but transferred in July , at the age of 19, to the Scottish team Rangers. Gattuso made his debut for Rangers, coming on as an 81st-minute substitute, in a 3—1 win against Hearts in the opening game of the season. Walter Smith , who brought Gattuso to Glasgow , left the club in During his time at the club, Gattuso's work-rate and versatility as a ball-winner later allowed Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti to place midfield playmaker Andrea Pirlo alongside him in a more creative, attacking position, while Gattuso supported him in a deeper role, as a defensive midfielder; this midfield partnership was pivotal to Milan's domestic and international successes under Ancelotti, which included the Coppa Italia , the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup in , as well as the Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana in Gattuso played his th game for the club in a goalless Champions League draw against Lille on 26 September , and he extended his current deal with Milan until on 1 February Despite the injury, however, Gattuso played the entire 90 minutes before being diagnosed by the club doctors after the match.
He underwent surgery to repair the damage on 19 December in Antwerp , Belgium. He was expected to miss up to six months of action but managed to return to the Milan bench on 10 May against Juventus , a month ahead of schedule.
