Former Napoli defender Matteo Contini thinks Gennaro Gattuso's determination as a player translates to the dugout.

Contini squared up against Gattuso when he was one of Italy's top midfielders playing for AC Milan.

Tenacious and tough, Gattuso won two Scudetti and two Champions League titles across 13 years at the San Siro.

The World Cup winner didn't take long to start his coaching career, taking over as player-coach at his final club, Sion.

Spells at Palermo, OFI Crete, Pisa and Milan U19 followed before landing the big job at the club where he made his name in November 2017.

Gattuso lasted almost two years with Milan before he was sacked in May 2019.

But after Carlo Ancelotti was axed by Napoli, Gattuso got another chance in the top-flight and helped the club to Coppa Italia success with a penalty shootout win over Juventus in June.

Speaking to Tribalfootball.com, Contini said: "For Gattuso the results speak for the same character that he had on the pitch transmits him as a coach in addition to his teams.

"I listen to him very willingly in his interviews. Never banal, straightforward, sincere. As a player I would have liked him in my team: always unique in his role as a generous striker.

"The attendance, the trophies speak for themselves: this makes you understand that it certainly had many other qualities as well."

Contini spent three years at Napoli, making 75 league appearances. And the Pergolettese boss remembers his time in Naples very fondly.

"Naples is something incredible how people make you feel, just because you wear their shirt. it's unique and you get goosebumps every time you step onto the pitch," Contini added.

"The San Paolo cheering you on, an entire city in their madness, in Italy few clubs can give you such an experience."