In a season shaped by responsibility as much as results, Lazio coach Gennaro Gattuso will receive recognition away from the touchline on 14 October. The former Italy international is among the figures to be honoured at the fourth International Euro-Mediterranean Excellence Award ceremony in Rome.
The coach and the club
Gattuso, now leading Lazio, will be presented with the award at 14:30 in the Giovanni Spadolini Hall at the Ministry of Culture. The event is organised by the Association of Mediterranean Journalists.
He joins Francesco Totti, Christian Vieri and Alessandro Moggi among the names already announced for this year’s ceremony.
The award’s citation recognises Gattuso for the determination, fairness and collective spirit he has represented throughout his football life. It also highlights his directness, his readiness to take responsibility and his willingness to face difficult moments rather than avoid them.
For the organisers, his path carries a message for younger generations: ability finds its full worth when it is matched by work, respect and the strength to recover after setbacks.
The distinction is intended to honour both the man and the sporting figure, whose example reflects football’s educational role and its capacity to bring together people from different backgrounds and cultures.
