Napoli Parts Ways with Coach Walter Mazzarri, Francesco Calzona Takes Over
Apr
Napoli has once again shaken up its managerial hierarchy, bidding farewell to caretaker coach Walter Mazzarri after just 17 games in charge. Francesco Calzona has been appointed as his replacement until the end of the season. Calzona, previously serving as assistant coach under Maurizio Sarri and Luciano Spalletti at Napoli, transitioned into coaching in 2022 when he assumed the managerial role for the Slovakian national team.
Following the draw against Genoa at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday, Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis made the decision to part ways with Mazzarri ahead of the first leg of the Champions League’s round of 16 clash against FC Barcelona in Naples.
Calzona, who has inked a short-term deal until June 2024, will continue his duties as the national team coach concurrently until the conclusion of the current season.
The managerial carousel at Napoli has been spinning rapidly since winning the 2022-23 Scudetto under Spalletti’s guidance. Following Spalletti’s departure and the exit of former sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli, Rudi Garcia was appointed as head coach but failed to deliver results, leading to his dismissal last November. Mazzarri then stepped in as caretaker manager, but the team’s fortunes did not improve under his tenure. Napoli registered only six wins in 17 games under Mazzarri, scoring a mere 16 goals. Additionally, the team failed to find the back of the net in nine of those matches, leaving them languishing in ninth place in the table, nine points adrift of the top four.
Calzona faces the formidable task of revitalizing Napoli’s season in the remaining fixtures, a challenge that eluded Mazzarri in recent weeks.
