Maurizio Sarri appointed as Lazio head coach
Maurizio Sarri has been appointed head coach of Lazio on a two-year deal.
The 62-year-old joins the club after the departure of Simone Inzaghi, who has joined Inter Milan to replace Antonio Conte.
The former Chelsea manager makes his return to Serie A having been sacked by Juventus in August 2020 and will be joined by his assistant Giovanni Martusciello along with Marco Ianni, Andrea Pertugio and Massimo Nenci.
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What is Sarri’s reputation in Italy?
Sarri continues to be held in very high esteem.
Although his period at Napoli is considered the zenith of his long managerial career and still figures as a benchmark against which the style of play of all teams is judged in Italy, the 62-year-old has since added the silverware he missed out on at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona by winning the Europa League with Chelsea and then the Scudetto with Juventus.
Andrea Pirlo's problems certainly cast last season with the Old Lady in a better light.
Was Sarri’s appointment expected?
Frankly, it comes as a bit of a surprise that Sarri's new job isn't with a bonafide title contender.
Ultimately the Lazio job came up when Inter tempted Simone Inzaghi away from the capital as Antonio Conte's successor.
Inzaghi's system was adjudged more compatible with Inter's current squad than Sarri's own very specific philosophy.
What has been said?
“Lazio have chosen a coach whose standing is in line with the need to consolidate and grow, in Italy and in Europe, the leading role that the club, its fans and the team deserves to have,” Lazio president Claudio Lotito remarked on Wednesday.
(Photo: Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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