Sports

Napoli Gets New Boss

Published

3 years ago

June 15, 2023

Rudi Garcia said on Thursday he was “as motivated as ever” after the Frenchman was named coach of runaway Italian champions Napoli.

Ex-Roma boss Garcia, 59, takes over from Luciano Spalletti who left his position after guiding the southern club to their first Scudetto in 33 years.

Garcia was sacked by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in April with the Saudi Arabian side second in the table just months after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner joined in a deal worth tens of millions of dollars.

“What a pleasure to take on the Napoli project. What a pleasure to return to Italy,” Garcia said on Twitter.

“I am as motivated and as ambitious as I have ever been,” he added.

Earlier, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed Garcia’s arrival before the club announced the news on social media.

“I have the pleasure of announcing that, after having met and spent time with him during the last 10 days, Mr. Rudi Garcia will be the new coach of Napoli,” De Laurentiis said on Twitter.

“A sincere welcome to him and a big good luck!” he added.

Fluent Italian speaker Garcia won the French double with Lille in 2011, before guiding Roma to Champions League qualification in 2014 and 2015.

He has also coached Marseille and Lyon in his homeland.

Italian media had reported that former Barcelona and Spain coach Luis Enrique was the favourite to replace Spalletti and ex-Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Galtier was also linked with the job.

Napoli keen on keeping Osimhen
De Laurentiis had said he had a shortlist of 40 names to succeed the colourful Spalletti.

Garcia will have big boots to fill by following 64-year-old Spalletti, the oldest coach to win the Scudetto and the man who led Napoli to the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time.

The Italian has departed Naples for a return to his Tuscan vineyard on gardening leave with sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli having also vacated his position.

One of Garcia’s main tasks will be trying to keep the title-winning outfit together as they repeated Diego Maradona’s feats in 1990.

Napoli repeated Diego Maradona’s feats in 1990 by winning the league. One of Garcia’s main tasks will be trying to keep the title-winning squad together.

South Korea’s Kim Min-Jae, whose superb season at centre-back quickly made fans forget Kalidou Koulibaly, has a 50 million euro ($54 million) release clause and Manchester United and Bayern Munich are reportedly eyeing his signature.

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is also a target after netting 30 goals in all competitions including the strike at Udinese which sealed the Scudetto with five matches left in the league campaign.

Osimhen has admitted he is interested in playing in the Premier League.

However, Garcia can count on working with Georgia wing wizard Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as his contract runs to 2027.
AFP

Sports

EPL: Chelsea Set To Sanction First Summer Transfer Under Alonso

Published

6 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Chelsea are set to sanction their first summer transfer under their new manager, Xabi Alonso.

According to the BBC Sport, the Blues are ‘open’ to selling Filip Jorgensen this summer after the goalkeeper indicated his desire to leave Stamford Bridge.

Jorgensen joined the Premier League west London club two seasons ago from Villarreal.

The 24-year-old shot-stopper was expected to compete for the number one position with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, but he made just 11 Premier League appearances over the two seasons.

However, while the arrival of Alonso to Stamford Bridge could lead to a change in fortunes for Jorgensen, the report added that the Danish star has already expressed his desire to leave Chelsea this summer to get more regular playing game-time elsewhere.

Chelsea had blocked a potential exit for Jorgensen in the January transfer window, but the Premier League west London club are now open to a sale, with European and English clubs expected to explore a deal for the goalkeeper.

Sports

EPL: ‘Go For Alvarez’ – Paul Merson Hands Arsenal Two Signings To Make

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

Arsenal legend, Paul Merson, has handed his old club two signings to make in the summer.

Merson wants Arsenal to sign Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez and a new midfielder.

“I would get a centre forward this summer, I would go for Julian Alvarez,” Merson said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.

“I am a big fan. If they could get him, I would. I still think they probably need another midfield player as well.”

Arsenal is expected to bolster its squad in the summer after winning the Premier League title ahead of Manchester City this season.

Sports

EPL: Wayne Rooney Picks Most Improved Player This Season

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

Manchester United legend, Wayne Rooney, has picked the Red Devils defender Luke Shaw as the most improved player in the Premier League following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.

Speaking on his BBC podcast, Rooney said, “I think, for me, Luke Shaw. I think Luke Shaw has been the most improved player this season.

“I know he is an experienced player now, but I think his level this season has been much better than it has been in recent seasons.

“People might look at Kobbie Mainoo but I don’t think he’s improved. It was just the fact he wasn’t playing under the former manager so it wasn’t good or bad.”

Shaw enjoyed one of his most consistent seasons at Man United and started all of Man United’s Premier League games.