Gattuso returns to Milan as club's youth coach

Following a tumultuous start to life in management, Gennaro Gattuso has rejoined AC Milan to coach the Rossoneri's youth ranks.

Gattuso, who recently oversaw Pisa's demotion to the Italian third tier, signed a two-year contract Friday at Milan, where he won virtually every possible title during his 13 years there as a player.

"I'm so happy to have received this offer from (sporting director) Massimiliano Mirabelli and from the club," Gattuso told Milan's official website. "I'm coming back home after five years and I'm ready to face this new challenge with the same dedication and grit which have always distinguished me, trying to instil all the players with the values needed to wear the red and black shirt."

Gattuso first experienced the demands of senior management as a player-coach at Swiss side FC Sion in 2013, but only lasted a few months in charge.

The feisty 39-year-old's next stop was Palermo, where he managed just six matches before trigger-happy president Maurizio Zamparini removed the 2006 World Cup winner from the bench.

Undermined by financial difficulties, Gattuso's time at OFI Crete was erratic. Players went unpaid for as long as a year, and although Gattuso had received his salary, he said he helped pay off some of the club's mounting debts. Gattuso resigned from the position in January 2015.

His most successful tenure came at Pisa. He helped the tourist city reach the Italian second division following promotion from Lega Pro, but resigned shortly after in protest of upheaval in the boardroom.

He rejoined Pisa for the 2016-17 campaign, only to see his team and Serie B's best defence relegated back to the third tier after a four-point deduction for administrative irregularities.