BREAKING: Napoli Sacked Manager, Walter Mazzarri

BREAKING: Napoli Sacked Manager, Walter Mazzarri

Italian League champions Napoli have made a managerial change for the second time this season by parting ways with Manager Walter Mazzarri and appointing Slovakia national team coach Francesco Calzona.

The 62-year-old Mazzarri assumed his role in November following Rudi Garcia’s dismissal, but Napoli’s Serie A standing has slipped to ninth ahead of their upcoming Champions League last-16 encounter with Barcelona on Wednesday.

Calzona will lead the team in the first-leg match against Barcelona on Wednesday.

Known for guiding Slovakia to Euro 2024, Calzona faces a significant challenge upon his return to Napoli, where he previously served as an assistant during Luciano Spalletti’s debut season without securing any trophies.

Reports indicate that Calzona will maintain his position with Slovakia and bring along Marek Hamsik, Napoli’s highest appearance maker, who also surpassed Diego Maradona’s scoring record for the club.

While Napoli clinched a historic third Scudetto in the previous campaign, the departure of title-winning coach Spalletti in the offseason has led to instability in Naples.

Napoli currently trails league leaders Inter Milan by a considerable 27-point margin, having won only four out of 12 league games since Mazzarri’s arrival, resulting in a total of 15 points.

The likelihood of Napoli reclaiming a top-four spot and securing a place in the revamped Champions League for the next season appears to be significantly challenging, even if Italy secures an additional fifth spot.