Napoli replace Rudi Garcia with Walter Mazzarri amid poor title defence

Napoli have appointed former manager Walter Mazzarri for a second spell at the club, replacing Rudi Garcia at the helm of their affairs immediately.

Former Al-Nassr manager Rudi Garcia was appointed as Napoli manager after title-winning manager Luciano Spalletti left the club at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Garcia leaves Napoli in fourth place in Serie A, ten points from leaders Inter Milan after their latest defeat at home to Empoli at the weekend, where Tyronne Ebuehi assisted the winner.

Napoli president Aurelio Di Laurentiis has turned to a known face to lead the side until June 2024 by appointing Walter Mazzarri.

Mazzarri was in charge of the Partenopei from 2009 to 2013, during which he won the Coppa Italia with the side.

Napoli chose Mazzarri after their first-choice option Igor Tudor rejected the offer to manage the team on a short-term basis, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Victor Osimhen will return from injury to play under a new manager, the third in his time at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The 24-year-old has scored six times in eight league matches this season.