Napoli tab ex-Roma boss Rudi Garcia as new manager

Lyon's French head coach Rudi Garcia gestures during the French L1 football match between FC Nantes and OL Lyon at the La Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes, western France, on April 18, 2021. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP) (Photo by LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)

Napoli have found their successor to Luciano Spalletti after the Tuscan opted to leave the club despite winning their first league title in over three decades.

The club was linked with a host of names including Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann and several more. However, they ultimately decided to go in an unexpected direction by selecting former Lille, Roma, and Lyon manager Rudi Garcia.

In a role reversal, this time it will be Garcia to succeed Spalletti after the latter was appointed to replace the Frenchman at Roma in January 2016.

Most recently, Garcia was on the bench of Cristiano Ronaldo’s new side Al Nassr, but he left the club in April by mutual consent.