Napoli has found a new trainer in Walter Mazzarri, transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano writes on social media. Mazzarri takes over from Rudi García, who was fired on Monday. Mazzarri signs a contract until the end of the current season.
The news is somewhat striking, as Italian media reported on Monday evening that Igor Tudor would take over for the current champion of Italy. However, the Croatian coach wanted to sign for a season and a half, until mid-2025, but the club did not agree to this.
Rudi García was fired after the disappointing results of recent weeks. The Frenchman had to succeed success coach Luciano Spalletti at Napoli, but could not live up to the expectations left by his predecessor.
After twelve matches played, Napoli is fourth in Serie A and ten points behind leader Internazionale. When they lost 0-1 at home to low-flying Empoli on Sunday, chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis had had enough and sent García away.
Mazzarri will now try to continue the season i Partenopei to save. The Italian manager was last at the helm at Cagliari. Before that he worked as a trainer at Torino and Watford.
The 62-year-old coach has previously coached Napoli. Mazzarri was already in charge of the southern Italian team between 2009 and 2013. In the 2011/12 season he won the Italian Cup with the club.
Napoli is also still active in the Champions League. The club is second in the group with seven points. Leader Real Madrid is at twelve. SC Braga and Union Berlin are third and fourth respectively, with three points and one point from four matches.