Napoli have appointed Luciano Spalletti as the club’s new head coach. Spalletti replaces Gennaro Gattuso who was sacked following their final day draw with Hellas Verona. That draw cost Napoli a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Gattuso has consequently been appointed Fiorentina head coach but his replacement at Napoli is vastly experienced Luciano Spalletti. Spalletti has extensive managerial experience having been in charge of the likes of Inter Milan and Roma.
Spalletti has signed a two-year deal at the Diego Maradona Stadium. His contract runs until 2023 and at this stage there isn’t an option in place to extend that deal.
Luciano Spalletti Appointed Napoli Head Coach
Spalletti is Tasked With Getting Napoli Back Into the Champions League
Napoli were agonisingly close to securing Champions League football but their draw on the final day of the season cost them. They had qualification in their own hands but fell at the final hurdle and ultimately that cost Gattuso his role.
He left after a fractious two years in charge in which there was constant speculation about his relationship with President Aurelio De Laurentiis. De Laurentiis has demonstrated he is a tough owner and tough to do business with. However, despite the struggles with the hierarchy, Gattuso got on well with the players.
Spalletti inherits a good group of players ready to challenge for a Champions League spot. He brings real experience having managed several sides in a career spanning over 20 years. Spalletti lasted managed in 2019 when he had two years at Inter Milan. Previous to that, Spalletti enjoyed two separate spells at Roma as well as five years in charge of Zenit St Petersburg.
Spalletti knows how to bring success having won three major trophies in Italy, guided Empoli to promotion and collected five trophies during his time in Russia. He plays an exciting brand of attacking football and certainly Napoli’s players should thrive on this. There is plenty of quality in that squad that just needs that extra motivation and belief that they can be successful.
Spalletti will look to reinforce the squad during the summer as he looks to stamp his authority. It’s certainly an exciting challenge for Spalletti with Napoli very much in contention for Champions League football. That will be his primary target as they bid to return to Europe’s top table.
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