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
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.
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.
The Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, returned from a disappointing 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe to a barrage of abuse from disgruntled supporters. The team played another tie against Lesotho during their most recent international window, which increased the focus on their overall performance.
The Super Eagles have to rely on a late equaliser by substitute Kelechi Iheanacho in their most recent game against Zimbabwe to salvage a point. The underwhelming outcome vs the 125th-placed side in the FIFA rankings added to the discontent among the fan base.
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The Super Eagles’ official social media account posted a video of their arrival when they returned to Nigeria, however, the majority of the supporters’ reactions to the post were unfavourable. Some supporters voiced their displeasure by saying the squad shouldn’t have returned to the country, while others proposed less-than-flattering welcomes, including rotten tomatoes and eggs.
The general attitude among supporters was one of dissatisfaction, with many thinking the team ought to be embarrassed by their recent showings. Some supporters demanded management changes for the squad, highlighting the necessity of progress in order to guarantee a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Their facial expressions says it all.
They know thymeyve messed up BIGTIME.
If this is how you’ll continue to play, it’s better we don’t even qualify for the WC
As long as you have Uzoho in post, all small nations will fancy their chance against Nigeria, all they need do is get a good shot on target, the rest will be history. pic.twitter.com/8SeQ2McAk8
Nigeria is presently ranked second in their World Cup qualifying group, although their chances of qualifying have been called into question due to their string of draws. The supporters’ criticism highlights the high standards and the team’s requirement for a major improvement in their next games.
According to reports, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is returning to the pitch after missing time due to a hamstring injury he suffered while competing for the Super Eagles in October. The 24-year-old is actively practising to get back into shape even though he hasn’t played for his Italian team, SSC Napoli, in over a month.
Osimhen’s injury problems started during a friendly match in Portugal versus Saudi Arabia, causing him to miss eight games overall for his team and club. The prolific forward, who led Serie A in scoring the previous season, missed six games for Napoli in a variety of leagues.
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Osimhen has reportedly returned to training, although on an individual basis, despite his absence, per sources from Football Italia. Although he was absent during the first training session under new manager Walter Mazzarri due to illness, he is diligently working on his recovery through personalized sessions on the pitch and in the gym.
The Super Eagles and Napoli are both benefiting from the Nigerian forward’s return to training. Coach Jose Peseiro’s Nigerian national side made a difficult start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign despite his absence, earning just two points from draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
As he continues his recuperation, Osimhen, who has six goals in eight games for Napoli and is presently third in the Serie A goal-scoring standings, will be looking to go back to full fitness and have a big effect for both club and country.
The careers of Messi and Ronaldo have marked the most significant rivalry in football, as both players have achieved extraordinary heights that surpassed expectations.
Numerous pundits, footballers, former players, and managers, including Jose Mourinho, have shared their perspectives on this enduring debate, indicating that it shows no signs of concluding soon. The latest addition to the discussion comes from legendary Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Alex Ferguson Shares His Thoughts On Who The GOAT Is
Considering Ronaldo’s time as one of the best players under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson, there’s no doubt that a close relationship exists between the two.
When snooker champion, John Parrott asked Ferguson to choose between Ronaldo and Messi, the legendary manager provided a thoughtful response.
Ferguson, as reported by the Mirror, acknowledged Messi as a contender for the title of the world’s best player, but he leaned toward Ronaldo, stating,
“People say who is the best player in the world? And plenty of people quite rightly say Messi – you can’t dispute that opinion.
But Ronaldo could play for Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, Doncaster Rovers… Anyone, and score a hat-trick in a game.
“I’m not sure Messi could do it. Ronaldo’s got two feet, he’s quick, great in the air, he’s brave – Messi’s brave, of course. I think Messi’s a Barcelona player.”
Ferguson emphasized Ronaldo’s versatility, suggesting that the Portuguese star could excel in a lower-tier team. Ronaldo, who spent six years under Ferguson at Manchester United, achieved significant milestones, including claiming his first Ballon d’Or award.
Subsequently, he moved to Real Madrid in 2009, adding four more Ballon d’Or trophies to his impressive collection.
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