Official: Sarri is new Lazio coach

Maurizio Sarri is officially the new coach of Lazio, signing a two-year contract to take over from Simone Inzaghi.

The deal had been in the works for over a week, but the paperwork was only finalised this afternoon.

It was announced with the briefest of statements: “SS Lazio announce that Maurizio Sarri is the new coach of the first team.”

The Aquile hinted at this arrival on social media with the cigarette emoji, referencing Sarri’s well-known smoking habit.

They then posted a series of other images as clues, including a tracksuit and a bank, as before becoming a coach full-time, Sarri worked in banking.

It’s believed to be worth €3m per season plus performance-related bonuses, reaching circa €4m if he qualifies for the Champions League.

Lazio needed a new boss after Simone Inzaghi walked away to replace Antonio Conte at Inter.

Sarri had been out of work in the 2020-21 season after he was fired by Juventus, despite winning the Scudetto.

Before that, the 62-year-old won the Europa League at Chelsea, while his Napoli side introduced the ideals of Sarriball and came close to the Serie A title.

It’s going to be a fascinating Derby della Roma, as the Giallorossi appointed Jose Mourinho this summer.