Gennaro Gattuso takes player-coach role at Swiss side FC Sion

Italian World Cup winner joined the club in the summer

FC Sion's new manager Gennaro Gattuso squres up with Bayern Munich's Willy Sagnol in 2002 (Getty Images)

Italy and AC Milan legend Gennaro Gattuso has made his first steps into management, taking a player-coach role at Swiss side FC Sion.

Víctor Muñoz has been demoted from manager to a scouting role. He only took over in January, and presided over a 4-0 defeat to Thun on Sunday.

Sion are currently fourth in the Swiss Super League, but after a strong start to the season, have only won five from the last 15.

Gattuso's first match in charge of the team, which he joined last year after 13 seasons with Milan, will be the Swiss Cup quarter-final at Lausanne on Wednesday.

He has started 18 games this season, scoring once.

Sion said Gattuso will take charge because of the "disastrous performance" at the weekend.

The 35-year-old combative midfielder, a World Cup winner in 2006, also played for Rangers and Perugia.

A club statement read: "Until further notice, the players will manage their activities themselves." It added that Muñoz will "take a step back" and be moved to a scouting role this week.

In 2011 the Swiss club were kicked out of the Europa League for fielding ineligible players in a qualifier against Celtic.