OFFICIAL: Napoli sack Rudi Garcia, announce replacement

Reigning Serie A champions Napoli have announced the departure of French manager Rudi Garcia after a poor run of form that sees the Partenopei handing on to faint hopes of defending the Scudetto title won last season. 

Napoli have only claimed one win in their last four matches in all competitions, trailing Serie A leaders Inter by 10 points while also trailing Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League by five points. 

With the Partenopei looking a lot worse than they did at this stage last season, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has chosen to act swiftly before things get out of hand. 

The club chief revealed that Garcia had been relieved of his duty, after posting a message on social media platform X to announce the arrival of the Frenchman’s replacement. 

That replacement is a former Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri, who was welcomed back to the club by De Laurentiis, who was also the owner during his last spell at the club. 

Napoli also welcomed Mazzarri back to the club on its official social media handles, effectively calling time on Garcia’s reign. 

Mazzarri coached Napoli for four years between 2009 and 2013, winning the Copa Italia in 2012 before moving to rivals Inter.