Rudi Garcia, the former coach of AS Roma, has expressed his excitement after being appointed as the new coach of Italian champions Napoli. The 59-year-old Frenchman takes over from Luciano Spalletti, who left his position after guiding the southern club to their first Scudetto in 33 years.
Garcia, who was previously sacked by Al Nassr in April, despite their strong position in the league, conveyed his enthusiasm for the Napoli project and his return to Italy through a tweet. He stated, "What a pleasure to take on the Napoli project. What a pleasure to return to Italy. I am as motivated and as ambitious as I have ever been."
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed Garcia's arrival, and the club later announced the news on social media platforms. De Laurentiis extended a warm welcome to Garcia and wished him the best of luck in his new role.
Fluent in Italian, Garcia has an impressive track record, having won the French double with Lille in 2011 and guiding Roma to Champions League qualification in 2014 and 2015. He has also managed Marseille and Lyon in his homeland.
Initially, there were reports that former Barcelona and Spain coach Luis Enrique was the favourite to replace Spalletti, with ex-Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Galtier also linked to the job. De Laurentiis had previously mentioned having a shortlist of 40 names to consider for the coaching position.
Garcia now faces the challenge of following in the footsteps of Spalletti, who became the oldest coach to win the Scudetto and led Napoli to the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time. Spalletti has since left Naples and is currently on gardening leave, along with sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli.
One of Garcia's primary tasks will be to retain the title-winning squad, as several key players have attracted attention. South Korea's Kim Min-jae, who had an exceptional season as a centre-back, has a release clause and is reportedly being pursued by Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who played a crucial role in Napoli's success, has also expressed interest in playing in the Premier League.
Despite these challenges, Garcia can rely on the talents of Georgia's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a wing wizard, as his contract extends until 2027.
Garcia's appointment as the coach of Napoli brings anticipation and high expectations for the upcoming season. The club aims to build upon their recent triumph under his guidance and continue their success in Italian football.
(With inputs from AFP)
