It was an open secret but French coach Rudi Garcia was more than ever in the hot seat in Naples. Indeed, the poor results at the start of the season, coupled with management deemed critical by his locker room executives, had greatly weakened his position on the Partenopei bench. President Aurelio De Laurentiis, who had already sounded the alarm, officially sounded the end of the Frenchman’s adventure on the bench of the Neapolitan club. If a meeting had already taken place several years ago after the defeat against Fiorentina, this Sunday’s defeat against Empoli (0-1) was one too many. While he had no room for error, his future was sealed with this new poor performance after which an emergency meeting was organized by Neapolitan President Aurelio De Laurentiis and his leaders. Mauro Meluso, Maurizio Micheli and Antonio Sinicropi.
“Napoli have decided to revoke the appointment of Rudi Garcia as head coach of the first team. We would like to thank him and his team for the collaboration they have shown so far., is written in the official press release, published on the Campania club website. Currently ranked in 4th position, Napoli has already fallen behind its direct competitors in the title race, while internal episodes have paralyzed the locker room with clashes between the French coach and certain players. major players like Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano. The Georgian was again, this Sunday, the victim of the more than strange management of his coach. As a reminder, Rudi Garcia had already been worried last October with several crisis meetings and even advanced contacts between De Laurentiis and Antonio Conte, a proposal declined by the Italian coach.
Only five months!
“I’m having a bad time with him. I am an entrepreneur, I have a duty to take an interest in my business. The coach and sports director are at your service. I will make the most appropriate decisions when the time comes. Any hasty decision is bad”, had warned President Aurelio De Laurentiis, visiting Luiss University in Rome. The Italian press even specified that a new ultimatum was going to be given for the meeting against Empoli to decide the future of Rudi Garcia at the head of Napoli. But it is clear that mass was said after the setback against the Tuscans on Sunday (0-1), especially since the 74-year-old businessman wanted to send a clear message to all the suitors he had been surveying for several months , and in particular to the Croatian Igor Tudor, priority target for Garcia’s succession in San Paolo, ultimately ahead of the returning Walter Mazzarri.
After a rather disappointing stint in the Saudi club Al-Nassr, Rudi Garcia, who played for LOSC, OL and OM, suffered another bitter failure and this one carries great symbolism. Indeed, while the 59-year-old Frenchman had left Ligue 1 having alienated the Lyon and Marseille supporters, Italy and Serie A nevertheless remained a perfect destination for the native of Nemours since his first stint at AS Roma had allowed him to gain infinite respect and real status in the eyes of Calcio. By leaving his post as coach of Napoli, title holder of the last Scudetto and a very popular club in a proud city, Rudi Garcia risks losing points in Italy with this hasty departure after only five months and seventeen matches managed with the Partenopei (8V, 4N, 5D).
