Napoli have officially sacked Carlo Ancelotti, with Gennaro Gattuso expected to take over tomorrow, following a summit with President Aurelio De Laurentiis.
“SSC Napoli has decided to revoke the role of first team coach from Mr Carlo Ancelotti,” read a statement.
“The rapport of friendship, admiration and reciprocal respect between the club, its President and Carlo Ancelotti remain intact.”
Napoli have officially sacked Carlo Ancelotti, with Gennaro Gattuso expected to take over tomorrow, following a summit with President Aurelio De Laurentiis.
“SSC Napoli has decided to revoke the role of first team coach from Mr Carlo Ancelotti,” read a statement.
“The rapport of friendship, admiration and reciprocal respect between the club, its President and Carlo Ancelotti remain intact.”
A summit with President Aurelio De Laurentiis was meant to take place on Wednesday, but it was brought forward to just hours after today’s 4-0 Champions League win over Genk.
That result ensured they qualify for the Round of 16, second in the group behind trophy holders Liverpool and unbeaten in the group phase for the first time in their history.
Sky Sport Italia note it was a brief meeting, because De Laurentiis had effectively already made his decision and just had to communicate it to Ancelotti.
Straight after the Genk match, Ancelotti had told Sky Sport Italia and in a press conference that he had no intention of resigning.
There could be another job lined up quickly, because Arsenal and Everton have both been heavily linked with a bid for his services.
The situation at Napoli has been extremely tense for weeks, ever since President De Laurentiis ordered the team into a training retreat.
Ancelotti said in a press conference he did not agree with the decision, then the players staged a mutiny and refused to go back into that team hotel.
The club imposed heavy fines, some up to 50 per cent, and they are the subject of potential legal action including the Italian Players' Association and FIFPro.
The 60-year-old tactician took the Napoli job in July 2018, after Maurizio Sarri had already effectively agreed terms with Chelsea.
He took the Partenopei to second place in Serie A in his first season and only missed out on the Champions League Round of 16 on goal difference with eventual winners Liverpool.
Ancelotti paid the price for a poor run of Serie A results, which left them in joint seventh place with Parma after five wins, six draws and four defeats.
They are without a win in seven Serie A games and will go head-to-head with Parma on Saturday.
In total, Ancelotti had 72 matches with Napoli, resulting in 38 wins, 19 draws and 15 defeats. His side scored 126 goals and conceded 71, averaging 1.85 points per game.