Lazio has named Maurizio Sarri as its new coach on Wednesday when the Italian club strongly hinted at the appointment of the 62-year old with a series of cryptic posts on its Twitter account.
Lazio first put simply an emoji of a cigarette and then wrote in Italian “Who has a light?”. It then posted a collage of pictures including a bank and a hand holding a cigarette. Sarri, who is a notorious smoker, is also a former banker.
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— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) June 9, 2021
Italian media have reported that the Italian has signed a new 2-year contract with Lazio. Sarri replaces Simone Inzaghi who left the job when his deal with Lazio expired. Lazio has now joined newly crowned Serie A champions Inter Milan following Antonio Conte’s departure from the club over disputes of funding and plans of selling key players by Milan’s management.
Sarri was out of a job after being sacked by Juventus despite leading them to their 9th consecutive league title in the 2019/20 Serie A season with only one season in charge of the Bianconeri.
Sarri did not play football professionally, taking part as an amateur centre back and coach while working as a banker. In 2005, he first got the Serie B job at Pescara. In 2014, Sarri won a promotion to Serie A with Empoli. After preserving their place in the top flight he was hired by Napoli. He won several individual awards while managing the Naples-based club; after finishing as league runners-up in 2017/18. Sarri moved to English club Chelsea, where he won the UEFA Europa League in his only season with the club. He became the oldest manager to ever win the Serie A after winning it with Juventus.