Napoli

Napoli appoint Rudi Garcia as new head coach following Luciano Spalletti exit

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 16 June 2023

Serie A champions Napoli confirm the appointment of Rudi Garcia as their new head coach following the departure of Luciano Spalletti.

Serie A champions Napoli have confirmed the appointment of Rudi Garcia as their new head coach.

The 59-year-old replaces Luciano Spalletti, who left the Partenopei to take a sabbatical after successfully steering the club to their first Scudetto in 33 years in the 2022-23 season.

The likes of Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Galtier and former Spain manager Luis Enrique had emerged as potential candidates for the vacancy earlier this month, but Garcia has been chosen to succeed Spaletti in the Napoli hotseat.

Napoli issued a brief statement on their official website to confirm Garcia's appointment, and they are yet to disclose the length of the Frenchman's contract.

Following the club's unveiling of Garcia as their new boss, president Aurelio De Laurentiis tweeted: "I am pleased to announce that, after having known him for the last 10 days, Mr Rudi Garcia will be the new coach of Napoli.

"To him, the most sincere welcome and a good luck wish."

✍️ Rudi García è il nuovo allenatore del Napoli!
Benvenuto Mister 👋 pic.twitter.com/aYjOVpGDP9
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) June 15, 2023

Garcia also took to Twitter to react to his appointment, adding: "What a pleasure to join Napoli's project. What a pleasure to return to Italy.

"I am motivated and ambitious, now more than ever, to continue to bring up the colours of the Italian Champions."

Garcia steps back into management just two months after leaving his role as head coach at Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr.

The Frenchman briefly coached five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo during his time in charge of the Middle Eastern club, who finished second in the Saudi Pro League table and four points behind champions Al-Ittihad.

Lyon coach Rudi Garcia pictured on February 19, 2021 © Reuters

Garcia previously managed in Ligue 1 with both Marseille and Lyon between 2016 and 2021 and was a runner-up with the former in the 2017-18 Europa League final to winners Atletico Madrid.

The Nemours-born coach's most notable year in management was with Lille in the 2010-11 campaign when he won the Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France, and was subsequently named Manager of the Season.

Garcia's only previous job in Italy was a two-and-a-half-year stint with Roma, where he won 61, drew 34 and lost 23 of his 118 games in charge before being sacked in October 2016 and replaced by Spalletti.

Napoli will be in Pot 1 for the group-stage draw of next season's Champions League and will be regarded as one of the frontrunners to secure another Scudetto title.

Garcia is set to embark on a busy summer transfer window, with the futures of a number of key players including Victor Osimhen and Kim Min-jae believed to be uncertain.