Napoli sack Donadoni

Napoli on Tuesday fired former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni and replaced him with Walter Mazzarri, the club announced on their internet site.

The news came as no surprise as it had been a case of when and not if after Napoli lost 2-1 at AS Roma on Sunday.

Before that defeat, Napoli’s fourth in seven league matches this season, Donadoni had already been under pressure.

But the Roman reverse proved to be the last straw for president Aurelio De Laurentiis, an Italian film producer who has grand plans for his home town club.

“This was a vital decision to give a boost to our season and to secure the next five years,” said De Laurentiis in a statement on the website.

The announcement followed a meeting between De Laurentiis and Donadoni on Tuesday after which the former Italy boss told reporters his sacking was official.

No details about Mazzarri’s contract were released although De Laurentiis’s comment suggests he has signed a five-year deal.

De Laurentiis had as good as confirmed Donadoni’s time was up following the Roma defeat.

“Donadoni has been a great experience just as (his predecessor Edy) Reja was, because he is someone polite and prepared,” said De Laurentiis.

“But there are coaches who are right for certain teams and others made to compete for the top four places and I want my team to compete with the top three.

“The problem is not Donadoni but De Laurentiis who still has a great desire for Napoli to compete with the top three. Hence, it’s not important if Donadoni stays or not,” the president saide

Napoli lie 15th in the 20-team Serie A after seven matches having lost all four of their away games and won only four of 18 league games under Donadoni.

Donadoni was a surprise selection for Italy coach when Marcello Lippi stepped down from the job following their World Cup victory in 2006.

He only took over at Napoli in March, nine months after he was fired when Italy were knocked out of the European Championship quarter-finals on penalties by eventual winners Spain.

Donadoni’s previous managerial experienced had been with Lecce, Livorno and three games with Genoa, all of which ended in defeat.

Mazzarri spent the last two seasons at Sampdoria, guiding them to an impressive sixth place and UEFA Cup qualification in his first season while last year they finished a disappointing 13th but reached the Italian Cup final.

He left the club by mutual consent at the end of last season.

Mazzarri began his coaching career at Napoli as Renzo Ulivieri’s assistant in 1998-99 before going on to coach in the lower divisions.

He led Livorno into Serie A in 2003/04 before joining Reggina, whom he kept in the top flight three years in a row, including in 2007 when they began the season with an 11-point penalty.