Next coaching exit at SSC Napoli? Calzona should succeed Mazzarri

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“Painful farewell”

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Article published: February 19, 2024, 2:47 p.m. – updated: 9:45 p.m

There is another coaching change at the Italian champions SSC Napoli. According to previous reports, Napoli President Aurelio de Laurentiis confirmed the replacement of coach Walter Mazzarri on Monday evening. It is the second change in the Partenopei coaching bench this season.

“Walter Mazzarri is a friend of the De Laurentiis family and above all of Napoli,” said the club boss, according to the Italian broadcaster “Sky Sport”. “It is a painful farewell because he was extremely available in difficult moments, but we must also remember that something more needs to be given to the Napoli fans.” De Laurentiis also announced his decision on the “X” platform.

The 61-year-old Mazzarri (1.24 PPS) only succeeded the Frenchman Rudi Garcia in November last year, but is by no means close to the points average of his predecessor (1.75 PPS). Luciano Spalletti previously led the SSC to the championship title as coach. Mazzarri had already coached the three-time champion between 2009 and 2013.

Napoli is currently in ninth place in Serie A. After the draw (1-1) against Genoa CFC on Saturday and the defeat against AC Milan a week earlier, speculation about Mazzarri’s dismissal has been increasing for a few days. This Wednesday, Napoli will face FC Barcelona in the Champions League round of 16.

SSC Napoli brings back ex-technical coach Calzona

As de Laurentiis also made it clear, his choice of successor fell on the current coach of the Slovak national team, Francesco Calzona. The club boss wants to introduce him to the team on Tuesday morning, even though 80 percent of the players still know the coach anyway. The 55-year-old Italian was the SSC’s technical coach between 2021 and 2022 and was previously an assistant coach under Maurizio Sarri for three years. Calzona’s debut is planned for the premier class game against Barcelona. It is said that the proposed dual role of his coach will not pose a problem for the Slovak Football Association, at least until June.

Calzona has held the position with the national team since July 2022. At the European Championships in Germany, his team will face, among others, Belgium and Romania in Group E – one starting place is still up for grabs.

This is how Italy expert Dietl assesses the situation at SSC Napoli

“The coaching situation in Naples was very difficult from the start after Spalletti left. Desired candidates like Thiago Motta (FC Bologna) canceled or were not available. Rudi Garcia was more of an emergency solution that even de Laurentiis wasn’t really convinced of. The transfer phase was also not very convincing, and in some cases the players that were actually needed were not brought in,” says Jatin Dietl, Area Manager IT, assessing the situation at the SSC.

The stadiums for the 2024 European Championship: Which group games will take place where?

Olympic Stadium in Berlin (intl. spectators: 70,000)

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Group A: Spain – Croatia (June 15, 6 p.m.)
Group D: Playoff winner A – Austria (June 21, 6 p.m.)
Group D: Netherlands – Austria (June 25, 6 p.m.)

Arena in Munich (intl. spectators: 67,000)

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Group A: Germany – Scotland (June 14, 9 p.m.)
Group E: Romania – Playoff winner B (June 17, 3 p.m.)
Group C: Slovenia – Serbia (June 20, 3 p.m.)
Group C: Denmark – Serbia (June 25, 9 p.m.)

Arena in Dortmund (intl. spectators: 66,000)

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Group B: Italy – Albania (June 15, 9 p.m.)
Group F: Turkey – Playoff winner C (June 18, 6 p.m.)
Group F: Türkiye – Portugal (June 22, 6 p.m.)
Group D: France – Playoff winner A (June 25, 6 p.m.)

Arena in Stuttgart (intl. spectators: 54,000)

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Group C: Slovenia – Denmark (June 16, 6 p.m.)
Group A: Germany – Hungary (June 19, 6 p.m.)
Group A: Scotland v Hungary (June 23, 9pm)
Group E: Playoff winner B – Belgium (June 26, 6 p.m.)

Arena in Gelsenkirchen (intl. spectators: 50,000)

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Group C: Serbia v England (June 16, 9 p.m.)
Group B: Spain – Italy (June 20, 9 p.m.)
Group F: Playoff winner C – Portugal (June 26, 9 p.m.)

Arena in Hamburg (intl. spectators: 50,000)

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Group D: Playoff winner A – Netherlands (June 16, 3 p.m.)
Group B: Croatia – Albania (June 19, 3 p.m.)
Group F: Playoff winner C – Czech Republic (June 22, 3 p.m.)
Group F: Czech Republic – Türkiye (June 26, 9 p.m.)

Arena in Düsseldorf (intl. spectators: 47,000)

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Group D: Austria – France (June 17, 9 p.m.)
Group E: Slovakia – Playoff winner B (June 21, 3 p.m.)
Group B: Albania – Spain (June 24, 9 p.m.)

Arena in Cologne (intl. spectators: 47,000)

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Group B: Hungary – Switzerland (June 15, 3 p.m.)
Group A: Scotland v Switzerland (June 19, 9pm)
Group E: Belgium – Romania (June 22, 9 p.m.)
Group C: England v Slovenia (June 25, 9pm)

Arena in Frankfurt (intl. spectators: 46,000)

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Group E: Belgium – Slovakia (June 17, 6 p.m.)
Group C: Denmark – England (June 20, 6 p.m.)
Group A: Switzerland – Germany (June 23, 9 p.m.)
Group E: Slovakia – Romania (June 26, 6 p.m.)

Arena in Leipzig (intl. spectators: 42,000)

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Group F: Portugal v Czech Republic (June 18, 9 p.m.)
Group D: Netherlands v France (June 21, 9 p.m.)
Group B: Croatia – Italy (June 24, 9 p.m.)

Dietl further explains: “With Mazzarri they tried to find a temporary solution that the club knows and to at least end the season in the Champions League places. So that one of the desired candidates, especially Antonio Conte, can finally be signed next summer. But, unsurprisingly, the plan didn’t work. Now they hope to somehow turn things around with Calzona and achieve at least fifth place, which is currently enough for CL qualification. Calzona is seen as someone who has always been highly valued by the team and who takes care of every little detail very meticulously.”

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