Another coaching change is imminent at Italy’s soccer champions SSC Napoli. As several Italian media outlets have consistently reported, the Serie A club is considering parting ways with head coach Walter Mazzarri.
It would be the second change in the coaching bench this season. Napoli’s President Aurelio De Laurentiis has already made a decision and Mazzarri is about to leave the SSC, reported the Italian daily newspaper “Gazzetta dello Sport”.
The 61-year-old Mazzarri only succeeded Frenchman Rudi Garcia in November last year after his dismissal. 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 CFC Genoa 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.
As “Gazzetta” and other media reported, De Laurentiis’ choice is said to have fallen on the current coach of the Slovak national team, Francesco Calzona. The club is already in advanced discussions with him. The 55-year-old Italian was already the SSC’s technical trainer between 2021 and 2022.