• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Napoli sack Ancelotti, to name Gattuso as replacement

Ancelotti-Napoli

Despite beating Genk 4-0 to secure knockout Champions League qualification, Napoli dismissed coach Carlo Ancelotti on Tuesday night.

The Serie A club had not won in nine games in all competitions until Tuesday’s 4-0 success at home to Genk.

Reports in the Italian media suggest that Gennaro Gattuso, sacked by AC Milan at the end of last season, has been lined up as Ancelotti’s replacement.

Napoli  Chairman Aurelio de Laurentiis and his directors made the decision after the final whistle.

Ancelotti had cast doubt over his own future as results in Serie A continue to disappoint.

“I’ve never resigned and I don’t think I will, tomorrow I will meet with De Laurentiis to take a decision,” he had said.

The falling out with De Laurentiis is also reported to be linked to Ancelotti’s reluctance to extend his contract when the club’s president wanted him to do s

Ancelotti was in his second season in charge of Napoli but they sit seventh in the league after that poor run.

They are the only team to beat Liverpool in 90 minutes this season, defeating the Reds 2-0 in September.

Last month the manager and Napoli players were in a high-profile dispute with president Aurelio de Laurentiis.

De Laurentiis ordered the team to attend a week-long training camp but Ancelotti and his players all returned home.

Ancelotti, who won the Premier League and FA Cup Double with Chelsea in 2009-10, has been linked with the vacant managers’ jobs at Arsenal and Everton.

He is one of only three managers to win three European Cups/Champions Leagues – along with Liverpool legend Bob Paisley and current Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.

Ancelotti won two Champions Leagues with AC Milan and one with Real Madrid, as well as domestic titles with Milan, Chelsea, Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich.