Napoli Parts Ways with Walter Mazzarri, Appoints Francesco Calzona as Interim Coach

Napoli has made another managerial change this season, bidding farewell to caretaker coach Walter Mazzarri after just 17 matches in charge. Francesco Calzona has been named as his replacement until the end of the season. Calzona previously served as assistant coach under Maurizio Sarri and Luciano Spalletti at Napoli before venturing into his own coaching career, which included a stint as manager of the Slovakian national team starting in 2022.

Calzona’s appointment comes after signing a short-term contract until June 2024, while also retaining his position as the national team coach until the conclusion of the current season. The decision to part ways with Mazzarri was made following Napoli’s draw against Genoa at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday, just ahead of the pivotal first leg of the Champions League’s round of 16 clash against FC Barcelona in Naples on Wednesday.

After clinching the 2022-23 Scudetto under Spalletti’s guidance, Napoli underwent significant changes with the departures of Spalletti and former sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli. The club’s owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, appointed former Al-Nassr coach Rudi Garcia in an attempt to stabilize the team. However, Garcia’s tenure was short-lived as he was sacked last November, leading to Mazzarri’s caretaker role.

Unfortunately, Napoli’s fortunes did not improve under Mazzarri’s leadership. With just six wins in 17 games and a mere 16 goals scored, Napoli finds themselves languishing in ninth place in the table, nine points adrift of the top four. Calzona faces the daunting task of rejuvenating the team in the final stretch of the season, aiming to reverse the club’s recent struggles under Mazzarri’s tenure.