Luciano Spalletti won’t be there to lead Napoli through their title defense next season. After helping the club win its first Serie A title in more than 30 years, Spalletti decided to step down as Napoli’s manager and take a break from soccer.
Spalletti recently approached Napoli’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis with a request for a one-year sabbatical, and De Laurentiis decided to let him have it.
“You have to be generous in life; I never expect anything in return,” said De Laurentiis confirming the news. “He gave us; I thank him, now it’s right that he continues to do what he loves to do.”
Luciano Spalletti took over as Napoli’s boss ahead of 2021-22 and led them to a third-place finish in his first season at the helm. He followed that up with a dominant campaign in 2022-23 that saw Napoli win the domestic title with five games to spare. They also reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
It is unclear where Napoli will turn for Spalletti’s replacement. Some believe that De Laurentiis will try to keep a similar soccer philosophy with his next hire and opt for Gian Piero Gasperini, who has been doing a great job with Atalanta in recent seasons. Former Juventus and Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is also believed to be in the mix.
