Napoli sack Walter Mazzarri, Francesco Calzona to take over

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 11: Walter Mazzarri, Head Coach of SSC Napoli, looks on prior to the Serie A TIM match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 11, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
By James Horncastle
Feb 19, 2024

Napoli have parted ways with Walter Mazzarri and replaced him with Francesco Calzona.

Mazzarri has paid the price with the Serie A champions enduring a hugely disappointing title defence.

Saturday’s home draw with Genoa left them ninth in the table, 27 points off leaders Inter Milan and saw Mazzarri and players booed off the pitch.

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Calzona is set to take charge for the remainder of the season alongside his current role as Slovakia head coach.

Calzona previously worked with Napoli under former coach Luciano Spalletti.

Spalletti guided Napoli to a first Scudetto in 30 years last season before departing the club in the summer.

Rudi Garcia was appointed as his successor but was relieved of his duties in November after just 16 games in charge.

Mazzarri, in his second spell with the club, signed a seven-month contract but leaves after 17 games at the helm.

Napoli are next in action against Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Victor Osimhen and the stuttering season indicative of Napoli's shoddy title defence

(Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

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James Horncastle

James Horncastle covers Serie A for The Athletic. He joins from ESPN and is working on a book about Roberto Baggio.