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4 Reasons Napoli Sacked Rudi Garcia

Published

1 year ago

November 16, 2023

4 Reasons Napoli Sacked Rudi Garcia | Fab.ng

Napoli has terminated the contract of head coach, Rudi Garcia after only four months in charge, citing a disappointing start to the season for the reigning Italian champions.

Walter Mazzarri has been brought in to salvage the remainder of the season, mainly due to his availability and familiarity with the club, having previously managed Napoli from 2009 to 2013.

While poor results were the primary reason for Rudi Garcia’s dismissal, other factors, including his strained relationship with Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen and several other Napoli players, also contributed.

Here are four reasons Napoli fired Rudi Garcia:

4 reasons Napoli sacked Rudi Garcia

4 Reasons Napoli Sacked Rudi Garcia | Fab.ng

1. Garcia did not get along with Osimhen and other Napoli stars.

Observing from an external perspective, Rudi Garcia seemed to struggle to establish control over the Napoli dressing room, especially with prominent players, based on the limited information available to the public.

Within his brief four-month tenure, Garcia had public disagreements with key players like Victor Osimhen and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia regarding tactical decisions and substitutions.

This dynamic can be somewhat justified, considering the Napoli players’ strong affinity for their former manager, Luciano Spalletti. Garcia faced challenges in measuring up to the rapport established under Spalletti, and Osimhen, in particular, recently expressed admiration for Spalletti, emphasizing their close personal relationship beyond football. This connection may have influenced how Garcia was perceived, especially given the abrupt nature of Spalletti’s departure from the club.

To be fair, Osimhen, in a recent appearance on the “Obi One Podcast“, spoke positively about Garcia, stating, “We started with a new manager, and it’s been going well”.

2. Spalletti is a tough act to follow.

Many were sceptical about Rudi Garcia’s prospects at Napoli from the moment of his appointment, largely because he was perceived as a downgrade from his predecessor, and this scepticism appeared justified.

Luciano Spalletti had established himself as one of the premier coaches in Italy and globally. Therefore, expectations were high that Napoli’s next manager would maintain a similar esteemed status in the footballing world.

The announcement of Rudi Garcia, who had recently been dismissed for poor results at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, was somewhat anticlimactic. Napoli had lost a title-winning manager, and Garcia, with only one league title on his resume (from 2011 with Lille), was brought in as the replacement.

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The reality was that Garcia’s appointment was unlikely to succeed unless Napoli was willing to compromise their newly acquired standards of success. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case.

In truth, any top-tier manager would have faced challenges in filling the void left by Spalletti’s impactful tenure, both on and off the pitch in Naples. This challenge was exacerbated by the choice of a struggling coach clearly on the decline.

4 Reasons Napoli Sacked Rudi Garcia | Fab.ng

3. Napoli’s poor home form.

Garcia also struggled to win over the Napoli fans, who were still mourning the departure of their beloved coach, Luciano Spalletti.

His failure to make a strong start further compounded his challenges, especially considering Napoli’s poor performance at home. The team has a subpar record at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples, having lost four games this season. Out of the eight home games played, they have only managed to secure two victories. Currently, Napoli is on a five-game winless streak when playing at home.

4. Napoli can still have a great season.

There was a chance that Garcia could have benefited from a bit more patience from Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, but the decision was made to part ways before the season reached an irreparable state.

The tempting prospect of hiring Walter Mazzarri as Garcia’s replacement played a significant role in the swift decision to let go of Garcia.

Currently sitting in fourth place on the league table, Napoli is 10 points behind the leaders, Inter Milan. With 26 Serie A games still to be played, this point gap is not insurmountable.

Additionally, Napoli holds the second position in their Champions League group, trailing only behind Real Madrid. There is still hope for success in that competition as well.

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Cleveland Cavaliers’ Forward Isaac Okoro Out For Two Weeks With Shoulder Injury

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Reporter

Forward Isaac Okoro out with shoulder injury | fab.ng

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without forward Isaac Okoro for at least two weeks after he sustained a shoulder injury during Monday’s dominant 130-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

The 23-year-old was diagnosed with a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder. This is an injury that will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks to assess his readiness to return.

Okoro, now in his fifth year with the Cavaliers, has been a reliable contributor this season. He averaged 6.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.

Notably, he is shooting with exceptional efficiency, achieving career-high percentages in both field goal accuracy (49.5%) and three-point success (49.2%).

Isaac Okoro 3 pt % by season:

2020-21: 29%
2021-22: 35%
2022-23: 36.3%
2023-24: 39.1%
2024-25: 49.2% (#2 in NBA) pic.twitter.com/FWYbbWy63i

— Across The Cavs (@AcrossCavs) December 19, 2024

His performance reflects a steady improvement in offensive consistency while maintaining his reputation as a strong defender.

Selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Okoro built his career on stellar perimeter defence.

This season, opposing players have struggled to score against him from beyond the arc, shooting just 35.7% when he is the primary defender.

This defensive mark is the second-lowest of his career, following the 35.5% he held opponents to during the 2021-2022 season.

Okoro’s value to the Cavaliers was underscored when he signed a three-year, $38 million contract extension in the offseason. This secures his place on the team through 2027.

His blend of defensive prowess and improving offensive contributions has made him a key piece of Cleveland’s lineup.

Currently, the Cavaliers boast the best record in the NBA at 23-4, thanks to their well-rounded roster and consistent performance.

Despite Okoro’s absence, the team will aim to maintain its winning momentum while he recovers and prepares for a return to action.

Check out more sports news here.

SPORTS

Africa’s Best Player Ademola Lookman Credits Atalanta for His Rise to African Football’s Pinnacle

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Adaeze Okechi

Lookman credits Atalanta for his football development | fab.ng

Ademola Lookman, the reigning African Player of the Year, has acknowledged the significant role that Serie A club Atalanta has played in his footballing journey.

The 27-year-old Nigerian international outshone Achraf Hakimi, Ronwen Williams, Serhou Guirassy, and Simon Adingra to claim the prestigious 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech.

Before this achievement, Lookman secured a remarkable 14th position in the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or rankings.

His exceptional season with Atalanta, culminating in a hat-trick during the Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen, undoubtedly contributed to this recognition.

When enquired about the impact of his career transitions from the English Premier League to the Bundesliga and subsequently to Serie A, Lookman shared his insights:

“I think the environment that the club (Atalanta) gave me has been very key to obviously my growth as a player.

“And also, just timing, you know, I’ve always believed in myself and to be able to achieve great things. But, yeah, the time has come and, you know, just blessed to be here.”

Five different winners? make that 6️⃣.

Ademola extends Naija’s lead with the most Men’s Player of the Year winners. 🇳🇬🏆#CAFAwards2024 pic.twitter.com/KmbGUGlYyC

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) December 18, 2024

Lookman’s Journey from Waterloo to African Football’s Elite

Ademola Lookman’s footballing journey began at Waterloo, where he ascended through the youth ranks.

His talent caught the eye of Charlton Athletic, who offered him his first professional contract. In 2017, he made a significant move to Everton, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal.

However, limited opportunities at Goodison Park led him to seek a fresh start at RB Leipzig. A series of loan spells to Fulham and Leicester City followed.

This is where he showcased his abilities, scoring eight goals and providing eight assists in various competitions.

In 2021, Lookman made a pivotal decision by signing a four-year contract with Atalanta, joining fellow Africans Jeremie Boga and Moustapha Cisse.

This move proved to be a turning point. He flourished in Serie A and earned a more prominent role in the Nigerian national team.

Reflecting on his career, Lookman acknowledged the impact of his infamous Panenka penalty miss during his time at Fulham.

He emphasised how he transformed this setback into a source of strength. Also, he expressed his hope that his recent achievements would inspire future generations of footballers.

“Yes, they were not very happy with me, but, you know, they gave me a lot of love and support after especially the coach, Scott Parker,” he continued.

“He helped me a lot to overcome that time but like I said on the stage it’s about turning your pain into power.

“I’ve managed to do that over the past couple of years and continue to do so. To the kids out there aspiring to improve and achieve in life: life may knock you down, and it may not deal you the best cards.”

2024 African Player of the Year 💫 pic.twitter.com/a7K0l0r5Hh

— Ademola Lookman (@Alookman_) December 17, 2024

Lookman Joins Nigeria’s Elite Footballers

Ademola Lookman’s triumph as African Player of the Year marks a significant milestone in Nigerian football history.

He becomes the sixth Nigerian to claim this prestigious honour. This follows in the footsteps of football legends Rasheed Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba, and Victor Osimhen.

Despite representing England at various youth levels, Lookman pledged his allegiance to Nigeria. This includes the victorious 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup campaign.

He made his Super Eagles debut in March 2022, contributing to their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification bid.

Lookman played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s impressive performance at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

His brace against Cameroon in the Round of 16 and match-winning goal against Angola in the quarterfinals highlighted his impact on the team.

As Lookman continues his stellar form, he is set to feature for Atalanta in their upcoming Coppa Italia clash against Cesena. Just four days later, they will host Empoli in a Serie A encounter.

Atalanta, led by manager Gian Piero Gasperini, currently occupies the top spot in the Italian Serie A table with 37 points from 16 matches. They hold a two-point advantage over their closest rivals, Napoli.

SPORTS

Everton Confirm Majority Takeover By Friedkin Group To End Moshiri Tenure

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Reporter

Everton confirm majority takeover by Friedkin Group | fab.ng

The Friedkin Group has acquired a 94.1% stake in Everton, becoming the Premier League club’s new majority owner. The American group paid over £400 million to end Farhad Moshiri’s turbulent tenure.

The Premier League has approved the agreement reached in September. This makes Everton the 10th club that Americans own in the division.

“Today marks a momentous and proud occasion for The Friedkin Group as we become custodians of this iconic football club,” said incoming Executive Chairman Marc Watts.

“We are committed to leading Everton into an exciting new era both on and off the pitch. Providing immediate financial stability to the Club has been a key priority, and we are delighted to have achieved this.

“While restoring Everton to its rightful place in the Premier League table will take time, today is the first step in that journey.”

Club Statement: Everton Football Club acquired by Roundhouse Capital Holdings Limited, part of The Friedkin Group. 🔵

— Everton (@Everton) December 19, 2024

Dan Friedkin leads the Texas-based Friedkin Group and owns Serie A club Roma. The club has a reported net worth of £6.16 billion. Friedkin will serve as Everton’s board chairman, while Watts will manage the club’s operations.

The American group put forward a list of priorities for Everton. They aim to strengthen the first team, develop the academy, improve the women’s side, and enhance the club’s global reputation.

Dan Friedkin wrote an open letter expressing his pride about becoming Everton’s new majority owner.

Dan Friedkin writes to Evertonians following our takeover completion. ✍️🔵

— Everton (@Everton) December 19, 2024

“I take immense pride in welcoming one of England’s most historic football clubs to our global family, The Friedkin Group,” the 59-year-old said.

“Everton represents a proud legacy, and we are honoured to become custodians of this great institution.

“Whilst we are new to the Club, we fully understand the vital role Everton plays in local culture, history, and the lives of Evertonians here and around the world.

“We are deeply committed to honouring this legacy while contributing positively to the community, economy, and people of this remarkable city.”

Everton’s first match under new ownership will take place against Chelsea on Sunday, December 22nd. Members of the new ownership group are expected to attend the match.

Check out more sports updates here.