Davide Frattesi and Mattia Zaccagni have been key figures in allowing Lazio fans to dream again under Gattuso. Here’s how the former Italy manager has done it.
When Gennaro Gattuso took on the reins at Lazio from Maurizio Sarri back in June, eyebrows were raised. Here was a manager who had come in for extreme criticism from all corners of Italy after failing to lead the national side to their first World Cup in three attempts. Lazio had taken a gamble and, although it is extremely early, nine wins, one draw and twenty-eight points from a possible thirty represent an exceptional start to life for Gattuso at Lazio.
Despite an up-and-down summer transfer window, losing Mario Gila to Serie A rivals AC Milan, as well as Alessio Romagnoli, little in terms of big-name incomings were brought in, and expectations were relatively low heading into the season. A shock 2-0 defeat to Mantova in the Coppa Italia did not improve the mood. However, by the first week of November, Lazio had recorded nine wins in their opening ten league games for the first time in their league history, and morale around the blue half of the Stadio Olimpico could not be higher.
Gattuso, a former World Cup winner himself in 2006, started his managerial career at the place where he spent the majority of his playing career – AC Milan. He managed at the San Siro for two seasons, narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification before being appointed manager of fellow Serie A giants Napoli in 2019. Despite good moments, failure to once again qualify for the Champions League spelt the end of his time in Naples. Jobs outside of Italy at both Valencia and Marseille proved difficult and unsuccessful, and Gattuso returned to Italy, this time as national team manager, replacing Luciano Spalletti.
Spalletti’s final action had been in a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Norway, with Gattuso replacing him nine days later. After two failed attempts at reaching the promised land that is the World Cup, his mission was simple: get Italy back to where they belong. Although Italy were only two games into qualifying, they were nine points behind Norway and way off France, with two games in hand. There was still time for him to turn it around. Unfortunately, Italy never really caught fire under Gattuso, falling into the play-offs with Bosnia and Herzegovina blocking Italy’s path to the World Cup. A nervy affair followed, with Gattuso’s side eventually beaten on penalties after a lacklustre display. Italy erupted with rage; Gattuso walked.
The Lazio job offered Gattuso a chance to really establish a reputation as a manager. He has talked about being a “prisoner of his own persona”, by which he feels his fiery reputation as a player undermines his coaching skills. With a full pre-season to work with his Lazio side, he has carved out a solid and effective side with the help of two players he worked with in the national side: Davide Frattesi and club captain Mattia Zaccagni.
Twenty-seven-year-old central midfielder Frattesi returned to Lazio, the club where he spent much of his youth career, on loan from Inter Milan. After two solid seasons at Inter, last season was a disappointing one for Frattesi, and both parties felt a move was necessary to further his career. He was picked by Gattuso for the fatal Bosnia game, coming on to play extra time but not taking a penalty. The pair have clearly developed an excellent relationship, with Frattesi remarkably saying he would “walk from Rome to Milan” for his manager and consistently drawing praise from his manager in press conferences.
His performances have most certainly earned praise, scoring three goals in his first five league appearances for the club, scoring in the opening-day win over Bologna, the 1-0 win over Genoa and the comeback win against Udinese. In Gattuso’s 4-3-3 system, Frattesi is tasked with making advancing runs from midfield and linking midfield to attack, rather than being crucial in building up play from the back.
Mattia Zaccagni was appointed Lazio club captain in June 2025, succeeding talisman Ciro Immobile, after a strong Serie A campaign in 2024/25. His first year wearing the armband was not a strong one, contributing just three goals and zero assists. When Gattuso came in, many thought a new leader might be installed, but the former Italy manager saw something in Zaccagni. The two also worked together with the national side, and Gattuso chose to keep him as the leader of Lazio, a move which has worked wonders.
Zaccagni has been contributing 0.64 g/a per 90 so far this, comfortably the best of his career (fbref.com)
Before picking up a thigh injury in the win over Cagliari, Zaccagni had been a shining light in this outstanding run of Lazio form. With five assists and two goals in ten games, he is looking back to his best. The clamour for him to be recalled to the Azzurri line-up was strong before the last camp and, despite being omitted by Roberto Mancini, if his form continues, you would think he would be a shoo-in for the Euros squad next summer. His relationship with his full-back, Nuno Tavares, has been instrumental in his upturn in form. Their relationship has almost seemed telepathic, with both making runs that are impossible for opposition full-backs to track, often leading to Zaccagni being well placed to go for goal or whip a ball across.
With Lazio one point clear of Inter, some fans have dared to dream again under Gattuso after a dismal few years at the Stadio Olimpico. After the remarkable high of finishing second under Sarri in 2022/23, they have finished seventh, seventh and ninth. As often comes with a period of failure, managerial instability has dogged Lazio over the last few seasons, as well as consistent criticism of president Claudio Lotito. Protests have gone so far that season-ticket sales for this season have fallen from 30,000 to a reported 4,500 as fans have tried to show their displeasure with the ownership.
Gattuso is building a team that gives supporters a reason to celebrate, despite the relationship between the supporters and the club’s ownership appearing severely damaged. His remarkable start to life, against the backdrop of fan protests, has provided a welcome change in direction in the discourse surrounding Lazio. For a fanbase that has endured years of frustration, Gattuso is giving them reasons to dream once more.
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