Napoli sack coach Garcia, rehire Mazzarri

Napoli have announced the dismissal of coach Rudi Garcia after just 16 games in the job and the return of Walter Mazzarri.

President Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed the decision to sack Garcia just over three months into the season, with a contract that was due to run until June 2025.

“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 statement.

As is then tradition, President De Laurentiis announced the new coach before the official club account, with a simple message: ‘Welcome back Walter!’

The French tactician was only drafted in over the summer after Luciano Spalletti walked away, having won the club’s first Scudetto in over 30 years.

Garcia oversaw 16 competitive matches between Serie A and the Champions League, resulting in eight wins, four draws and four defeats.

The last couple of games proved decisive, as Napoli were held to a 1-1 home draw by Champions League whipping boys Union Berlin, then lost 1-0 to an Empoli side who were in penultimate place.

The 59-year-old was making his return to Serie A, having already been the coach of Roma from 2013 to January 2016.

That was followed by experiences at Olympique Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais and Al-Nassr.

As for Mazzarri, he was at Napoli from October 2009 to May 2013.

It was followed by experiences at Inter, Watford, Torino and most recently Cagliari, ending in May 2022.

Mazzarri won the Coppa Italia for Napoli in 2011-12, overseeing 89 wins, 49 draws and 44 defeats.

While De Laurentiis had met with Igor Tudor yesterday, it was widely reported talks fell down because the Croatian wanted a contract to June 2025, whereas Mazzarri is prepared to accept a deal to the end of this season.

That can then leave Napoli free to line up Antonio Conte.