Victor Osimhen has a new coach as Napoli replace Mazzarri with Calzona
Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen has a new coach at Napoli following the sack of Walter Mazzarri and appointment of Francesco Calzona on Monday, February 19, 2024.
Napoli made a swift managerial change by sacking Walter Mazzarri and appointing Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona just ahead of their crucial Champions League clash with Barcelona.
The decision to relieve Mazzarri of his duties comes after Napoli’s disappointing performance, which saw them slide to ninth place in Serie A. With the Champions League fixture looming, the club acted quickly to bring in Calzona.
Aurelio De Laurentiis, Napoli’s owner, expressed gratitude to Mazzarri for his contribution during a challenging period and confirmed Calzona’s appointment until the end of the season.
De Laurentiis acknowledged the difficulty of parting ways with Mazzarri, a friend of the club, but stressed the need to provide Napoli fans with exceptional performances.
Calzona returns to Napoli, where he previously served as an assistant under Maurizio Sarri. His task is daunting, as he inherits a team struggling to find form and consistency.
While leading Slovakia to Euro 2024, Calzona faces the challenge of reviving Napoli’s fortunes in Serie A. Despite their recent struggles, Napoli aims to regain momentum under his guidance.
Mazzarri’s departure marks the end of a brief second spell in charge, contrasting sharply with his successful tenure from 2009 to 2013. During his previous stint, Napoli achieved notable success, including winning the 2012 Italian Cup.
However, Napoli’s recent performances have been far from satisfactory, leading to the decision to replace Mazzarri in a bid to salvage their season.
With Calzona at the helm, Napoli aims to turn their fortunes around and climb up the Serie A table. Their immediate focus shifts to the upcoming fixtures against Cagliari and Sassuolo following the crucial Champions League encounter with Barcelona.
OSIMHEN AVAILABLE FOR FC BARCELONA CLASH
While sacked Walter Mazzari did not have Napoli hitman available for most part of his stay due to injury and the 2023 AFCON, new manager Francesco Calzona will be able to use the Nigerian forward vs FC Barcelona in mid-week.
Osimhen is available for selection but is not expected to last a full game and so may be called upon from the bench or start and play for an hour in the UEFA Champions League game in Naples. That will be one key decision for the new Partonopei boss to make.
