Victor Osimhen’s Napoli have welcomed back former coach Walter Mazzarri to their fold after the sacking of Rudi Garcia.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis announced the new coach before the official club account, with a simple message: ‘Welcome back Walter!’
The French man was given the axe after just 16 games that have seen the Serie A champions lag behind the front runners with 10 points.
“Societá Sportiva Calcio Napoli have decided to remove Mr Rudi Garcia from the role of head coach. We thank him and his staff for the collaboration shown until now,” read a club statement.
Mazzarri, was in charge at Napoli from October 2009 to May 2013. Mazzarri won the Coppa Italia for Napoli in 2011-12, overseeing 89 wins, 49 draws and 44 defeats. He then had stints at Inter, Watford, Torino and most recently Cagliari, ending in May 2022.
Napoli had wanted Igor Tudor, but settled for Mazzarri after the Croation turned down deal that would keep him for rest of the season. Tudor wanted a deal that will run till 2025. But Napoli with an eye on Antonio Conte were only prepared to off a short term deal, which Mazzarri jumped at.
NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 02: Walter Mazzarri head coach of Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Pescara Calcio at Stadio San Paolo on December 2, 2012 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)