Luciano Spalletti is BACK in Serie A as ex-Inter boss is appointed Napoli’s new manager to replace Gennaro Gattuso after club missed out on Champions League qualification
- Luciano Spalletti has been out of work since being sacked by Inter Milan in 2019
- Napoli axed Gennaro Gattuso earlier this week after finishing fifth in Serie A
- Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed Spalletti’s appointment in a club statement
- The 62-year-old won back-to-back Coppa Italia titles with Roma 2006-08
Napoli have named Luciano Spalletti as their new manager and will take over in July following the sacking of Gennaro Gattuso.
The 62-year-old has been out of work since being axed by Inter Milan in May 2019 despite leading them to a Champions League spot in his two seasons at the club.
Italy legend Gattuso was dismissed last weekend after Napoli’s 1-1 draw against Hellas Verona consigned them to the Europa League next season.
Napoli have named Luciano Spalletti as their new manager and will take over in July
The 62-year-old has been out of work since being axed by Inter Milan in May 2019
And Spalletti has now been named the former midfielder’s successor, with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis releasing a statement on their official website.
‘I am pleased to announce that Luciano Spalletti will be the new Napoli coach starting from next July 1st,’ de Laurentiis said.
‘Welcome Luciano, together we will do a great job.’
Spalletti went trophyless in charge of Inter Milan, but the club did qualify for the Champions League during both of his season at San Siro, with the 2018 qualification the first time Inter managed to qualify in six years.
Gennaro Gattuso (left) was dismissed last weekend by president Aurelio De Laurentiis (right)
Moreover, he has previously led fellow Serie A giants Roma to back-to-back Coppa Italia titles between 2006 and 2008.
He has also been in charge of Sampdoria and Udinese in Italy and Zenit St Petersburg in Russia during his managerial career, winning the league with the latter in 2010 and 2012.
The announcement comes just a few days after De Laurentiis announced the departure of Gattuso – who has since gone on to be named Fiorentina’s new boss – on Twitter.
‘Dear Rino, I am happy to have spent almost two seasons with you. Thank you for your work and I wish you success wherever you go. A hug also to your wife and children,’ De Laurentiis wrote.
Gattuso’s Napoli contract was set to expire in June. Fiorentina, meanwhile, finished down in 13th position.
Spalletti won back-to-back Coppa Italia trophies with Roma between 2006 and 2008