Split (Croatia) - Hot shot, mental monster, fighter: soccer legend Gennaro Gattuso (47) was considered one of the world's best clearers in defensive midfield during his playing days and became world champion with Italy in 2006. But his life was not only marked by success, as the 47-year-old has been suffering from a serious autoimmune disease for well over a decade.

In an interview with"Vivo Azzurro TV", he looked back on his career to date and spoke about the transformation of soccer - but also revealed details about his illness.

"It drives me crazy when kids give up after the first difficulty," explained the ex-Milan star, adding: "You have to work hard, you have to train, you have to have respect and maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to go full throttle."

However, Gattuso, now head coach of Croatian first division club HNK Hajduk Split, also knows that you can't compare the sport of today with that of the past: "The truth is that soccer has changed, the speeds have increased, physical contact has increased and you have to be ready, because technique alone is no longer enough," the 73-time international continued.

But the conversation wasn't just about the ball. The former calf-biter also spoke about his relentless battle against a disease affecting his right eye and optic nerve.

He has been struggling with myasthenia gravis for 15 years, confessed the father of two. This first became known in 2020, during his time as coach of SSC Napoli.

"It doesn't just look bad, this disease also makes you really tired," the two-time Champions League winner once confessed. "When you see double the whole day, it takes a lot out of you."

According to his own statements, cortisone would help him to alleviate the recurring symptoms.

"For four or five years, I gave up the things I loved, a glass of wine. When you get diplopia [the perception of two images of a single object, editor's note], when you see double, it's not easy, but I always believed that I was stronger than the disease."

Gattuso began his professional career at AC Perugia in 1995. This was also the starting signal for a triumphant future, as he joined AC Milan just four years later. He became an icon in the kit of the Italian top club, playing 335 competitive matches for the Rossoneri from 1999 to 2012.

After his career as a star footballer, which he ended in 2013 with Swiss club FC Sion, he switched to the coaching profession.

After spells at Napoli (2019-2021), Valencia (2022-2023) and Marseille (2023-2024), among others, he has now been on the sidelines at Hajduk since July 2024.