Shortly before the important game against FC Barcelona, Naples parted ways with their coach again. The club has already found a replacement.
Shortly before the Champions League round of 16 against FC Barcelona, Italian football champions SSC Napoli changed their coach. 55-year-old Francesco Calzona will take over as head coach following the official separation from Walter Mazzarri, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis announced on Monday evening. Calzona was an assistant coach in Naples between 2015 and 2018 and between 2021 and 2022 and has been the coach of the Slovak national team since 2022.
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 a separation from Mazzarris has been increasing for a few days. The Italian took over from Frenchman Rudi Garcia in November last year. The change comes immediately before the game against FC Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.
De Laurentiis thanked Mazzarri. The Napoli president wrote on social media that he supported the team in a difficult moment. “He will remain in the hearts of Neapolitans and our family.” It was difficult for De Laurentiis to say goodbye, but they had to give more to the Napoli fans. He welcomed Mazzarri’s successor Calzona and wished him much success with the team.
As Italian media reported, Calzona will lead the first training session on Tuesday and prepare the team for the game against FC Barcelona. Calzona will therefore receive a contract until the end of the season and can continue to carry out his duties as Slovakia’s coach in the meantime.