Napoli dismiss Walter Mazzarri and appoint Slovakia’s Francesco Calzona as new manager

Napoli Sacks Manager Mazzarri, Appoints Calzona as Replacement

In a surprising turn of events in European football, Napoli has decided to part ways with manager Walter Mazzarri after just three months at the helm. The Italian champions currently find themselves in ninth place in Serie A, leading to this unexpected decision.

Replacing Mazzarri is none other than Slovakia’s head coach, Francesco Calzona. Reports suggest that Calzona has inked a deal until the end of the season and will continue his role with Slovakia alongside managing Napoli.

Aurelio de Laurentiis, the club’s owner, expressed gratitude towards Mazzarri for his contributions during what he described as a “tricky period” for the team. This managerial shift comes just before Napoli’s crucial Champions League clash against Barcelona in the last-16 first-leg tie set for Wednesday.

Calzona’s Journey and Experience

The newly appointed boss, Calzona, took over as Slovakia’s manager back in August 2022 and played a key role in guiding the nation to qualification for this summer’s European Championship hosted in Germany. His extensive experience includes stints as an assistant at Napoli under Maurizio Sarri and Luciano Spalletti.

An intriguing blend of coaching backgrounds makes Calzona an interesting choice to lead Napoli forward amidst their current challenges both domestically and on the continental stage.

The upcoming matches will undoubtedly put his strategic acumen to test as he navigates through high-stakes competitions with ambitious goals on multiple fronts.