Sports
Chelsea confirm Maurizio Sarri as their new manager as Italian becomes Antonio Conte’s successor
MAURIZIO SARRI has been unveiled as the new Chelsea manager this morning.
The former Napoli boss, 59, has signed a three-year contract worth around £17.7million to take over after Antonio Conte was sacked on Friday.
Sarri said: “I am very happy to be coming to Chelsea and the Premier League. It is an exciting new period in my career.
“I look forward to starting work and meeting the players on Monday ahead of travelling to Australia, where I will be able to get to know the squad and begin our match action.
“I hope we can provide some entertaining football for our fans, and that we will be competing for trophies at the end of the season, which is what this club deserves.”
Director Marina Granovskaia added: “We are delighted to welcome Maurizio and are looking forward to him bringing his football philosophy to Chelsea.
“Maurizio’s Napoli side played some of the most exciting football in Europe, impressing with their attacking approach and dynamism, and his coaching methods significantly improved the players at his disposal.
“He has plenty of experience in Serie A and the Champions League and we know he is relishing the chance to work in the Premier League.”
Sarri led Napoli to two second-place finishes during his three years in charge.
He joined the Serie A club in 2015 after leading Empoli to the top flight and the Blues job is his first overseas.
Following the announcement this morning, Napoli posted a classy goodbye message to their former leader on Twitter.
It read: “The club would like to thank Maurizio Sarri for the work he has done over the past three years.
Through the job he did, the players at this club have grown and improved, showing themselves to be top players and developing a style of play appreciated the world over.
“We hope Maurizio finds, wherever he goes, that same warmth, respect and affection he enjoyed from everyone at the club and in this city. Best of luck, Maurizio! #ForzaNapoliSempre.”
That was in stark contrast to the miserly 61-word statement released by Chelsea confirming Conte’s sacking yesterday.
The chain-smoker‘s first job will be to try to stop midfielder N’Golo Kante joining Barcelona after Sunday’s World Cup final.
Frenchman Kante is a major target for the Spanish champions and is believed to be interested in a move.
Sarri also has just a month to sort out issues with disillusioned players such as Eden Hazard, Willian and keeper Thibaut Courtois, who grew alienated from Conte during his turbulent time in charge.
There is less than a month to go until Chelsea kick off the new Premier League season away at Huddersfield on August 11.
And he has a date at Wembley to look forward to a week prior to that when his new side take on Prem champions Manchester City in the Community Shield.
Sarri must work out what to do with returning loanees Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Michy Batshuayi, Kurt Zouma and emerging rookies Ethan Ampadu, Charly Musonda, Tammy Abraham and Dujon Sterling.
However, excitement will be growing amongst the Stamford Bridge faithful following his arrival.
And even Gary Lineker appears to be looking forward to seeing how Chelsea play under the Italian.
The England icon and Match of the Day presenter wrote on Twitter: “Maurizio Sarri is the new @ChelseaFC coach.
“If he creates a team as entertaining to watch as Napoli were under his stewardship then Chelsea’s fans are in for a treat.”
Sarri is also expected to have a familiar face helping him to settle in West London.
Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola is expected to be announced this week as part of the new manager’s backroom team.
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ANTONIO CONTE
Dates in charge: July 3, 2016 to July 12, 2018
Cost to sack: £9m
Conte signed a three-year contract in 2016 and led Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season. But missing out on Champions League qualification last term spelt the end for the Italian, set to be replaced by Maurizio Sarri.
JOSE MOURINHO
Dates in charge: June 3, 2013 to December 17, 2015
Cost to sack: £9.5m
Chelsea fans couldn’t wait to have their Special One back – on a four-year deal, no less – where he led the club to an impressive Premier League title win in his second season back. However, a dreadful start to 2015-16 saw him promptly sacked with the club in genuine relegation trouble.
ROBERTO DI MATTEO
Dates in charge: March 4, 2012 to November 21, 2012
Cost to sack: £10.7m
Club legend as a player, stop-gap boss as manager, Di Matteo did incredibly lead Chelsea to their Champions League trophy – after taking over well into the competition, in March. He was signed on a permanent basis in the summer, but was gone by November amidst a dreadful run of form.
ANDRE VILLAS BOAS
Dates in charge: June 22, 2011 to March 4, 2012
Cost to sack: £12m
Chelsea paid a world record £13m to land AVB – but the appointment was little more than a nightmare. As the Blues slipped out of the top four in February and March, the Portuguese boss was given the boot.
CARLO ANCELOTTI
Dates in charge: June 1, 2009 to May 22, 2011
Cost to sack: £6m
Chelsea’s fourth permanent manager in less than two years, Ancelotti led Chelsea to the Prem title – scoring a then-record 103 that year – and the FA Cup in his first season. However, an awful winter of 2010/11 ultimately spelt the end for the Italian, who – despite a late rally – was sacked immediately after the final game of the season.
LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI
Dates in charge: July 1, 2008 to February 9, 2009
Cost to sack: £12.6m
Scolari left Portugal for Chelsea immediately after Euro 2008 and started well. But “Big Phil” was sacked in February as Chelsea endured a rocky winter culminating in a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool and goalless draw with Hull.
AVRAM GRANT
Dates in charge: September 20, 2007 to May 24, 2008
Cost to sack: £5.5m
A personal friend of Roman Abramovich, Grant was given the unenviable task of replacing Mourinho, despite not holding the required coaching badges. Chelsea lost both the League Cup and Champions League finals in his sole season – finishing second in the Premier League.
JOSE MOURINHO
Dates in charge: June 2, 2004 to September 17, 2007
Cost to sack: £18m
“Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one”, claimed Mourinho on his arrival in London. Mourinho won the Premier League in his first two seasons and despite leading Chelsea to 64 consecutive home games without defeat, the Special One left Chelsea over reported arguments with Abramovich.
CLAUDIO RANIERI
Dates in charge: September 17, 2000 to May 31, 2004
Cost to sack: £6m
“The Tinkerman” was the first manager under Abramovich and was allowed major investment in the transfer windows. However, despite that, Chelsea failed to win a single trophy under Ranieri and was replaced by Mourinho – arguably just as the Blues were starting to find their rhythm.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
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Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
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Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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