Napoli have made a significant managerial change ahead of their crucial Champions League clash against Barcelona. The Italian champions have parted ways with manager Walter Mazzarri and appointed Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona as his replacement until the end of the season.
Calzona, aged 55, will continue to lead Slovakia as well, guiding them through the upcoming European Championship in Germany. This move marks Napoli's third coaching change in what has been a turbulent season following their Serie A title triumph under Luciano Spalletti last year.
Mazzarri's tenure at Napoli was cut short after a string of disappointing results, including a recent 1-1 draw against Genoa. The 62-year-old managed just six wins in 17 matches, prompting club president Aurelio De Laurentiis to take action before the Barcelona game.
Prior to Mazzarri, Rudi Garcia had a brief stint as Napoli's manager, winning only eight out of 16 games. Napoli's title defense has been far from ideal, as they currently sit in ninth place in Serie A, trailing nine points behind the Champions League qualification spots and a significant 27 points behind league leaders Inter.
Calzona, who previously worked under Spalletti at Napoli, faces the challenging task of reviving Napoli's season. His first test will be against Barcelona in the Champions League, followed by crucial league fixtures against Cagliari, Sassuolo, Juventus, and Torino before the return leg against Barcelona on March 12.
