Napoli appoint Antonio Conte as new manager

Italian Antonio Conte has been given the task of reviving Napoli and returning the Serie A club to the top of the standings after a disappointing season.

The Italian, who will return to management after a one-year absence following his departure from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, has signed a contract that will keep him at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona through 2027.

He will take over a Napoli team whose title defence collapsed well before the end of the season, with the club finishing tenth and failing to qualify for European competition.

"I can certainly promise one thing: I will do my utmost for the growth of the team and the club. My commitment, along with that of my staff, will be total," Conte said in a statement.

The 54-year-old, who played over 400 games for Juventus, has extensive experience in Serie A, having won four league titles as head coach of Inter Milan and Juventus.

Conte, a former Italy coach, also enjoyed success in England with Chelsea, winning the Premier League and FA Cup.

"Antonio is a top coach, a leader," Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis said.

"I am sure that he will be able to start that necessary refounding after the conclusion of the cycle that led us to win the league title last year after many seasons at the top of Italian soccer."

"Today opens an important new chapter in the history of Napoli."

Napoli had a turbulent 2023-24 season, going through three managers after coach Luciano Spalletti left to take the Italy job.

Spalletti was replaced by Rudi Garcia, who was fired four months into the season, before former manager Walter Mazzarri returned to try to turn things around.

Mazzarri made no impression before leaving after three months, and Slovakia manager Francesco Calzona was brought in on a temporary basis to see the team through the season.

SportsLigue