The veteran manager will work with the prolific Nigerian forward next season if he decides to stay in Italy
Former AS Roma and Al Nassr manager Rudi Garcia has been announced as the new head coach of Napoli, replacing Luciano Spalletti, who guided the team to their first Scudetto title in 33 years, Soccernet.ng reports.
The appointment comes after Spalletti declared his desire for a break from coaching.
Garcia’s immediate task will be to build upon Napoli’s recent successes and defend their Serie A crown in the upcoming season.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis took to Twitter to break the news, expressing his pleasure in announcing Garcia’s appointment after extensive discussions over the past ten days.
The Frenchman’s arrival was warmly welcomed by the club’s official Twitter page as well.
✍️ Rudi García è il nuovo allenatore del Napoli!
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) June 15, 2023
Benvenuto Mister 👋 pic.twitter.com/aYjOVpGDP9
Garcia, a seasoned coach with previous stints at Lille, Roma, Marseille, and Lyon, brings a wealth of experience to the Naples-based club.
During his tenure at Lille, he led the team to a Ligue 1 title in 2011. His time at Marseille saw them reach the final of the UEFA Europa League in 2018.
One of Garcia’s first key challenges will be to convince Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker who played a pivotal role in Napoli’s title-winning campaign, to stay at the club.
Osimhen’s outstanding performance saw him score 31 goals in all competitions, attracting interest from top European clubs such as Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich.
However, De Laurentiis has made it clear that he has no intention of parting ways with the 24-year-old unless it aligns with his own terms.
Napoli fans will eagerly anticipate Garcia’s strategies and tactics as they hope for continued success under his guidance.
The club aims to consolidate its position as one of Italy’s top teams and make its mark in both domestic and international competitions, with eyes set on another strong season in Serie A and further progress in the UEFA Champions League.
