Maurizio Sarri’s agent said his appointment as Napoli Coach “proves meritocracy does exist in football.”
The former Empoli boss spent his entire management career in the lower leagues, starting out with amateurs in 1996 and not making his professional debut until 2003 with Sangiovannese in Serie C2.
He arrived at Empoli in 2012, earning promotion two years later and securing their Serie A safety this term.
Maurizio Sarri’s agent said his appointment as Napoli Coach “proves meritocracy does exist in football.”
The former Empoli boss spent his entire management career in the lower leagues, starting out with amateurs in 1996 and not making his professional debut until 2003 with Sangiovannese in Serie C2.
He arrived at Empoli in 2012, earning promotion two years later and securing their Serie A safety this term.
“Sarri is a self-made man and I hope this is a sign for the sport, because it proves meritocracy does exist in football,” agent Alessandro Pellegrini told Piuenne.
“The Coach went from unemployed to one of the most prestigious jobs in the football panorama. There was no contact with Fiorentina, but Cagliari did approach us and he thought he could still show his worth in Sere A.
“I won’t trot out the usual rhetoric about it being a dream come true, but I can safely say that if he could’ve chosen a club, it would’ve been Napoli.”
Sarri was born in Naples and signed a one-year contract with option for a second, replacing Real Madrid-bound Rafa Benitez.
“The Coach never had doubts accepting the Napoli post, as this is the chance of a lifetime. You cannot have doubts when faced with a President like Aurelio De Laurentiis and a team like Napoli.
“There was not even a moment when we thought the deal could fall through. De Laurentiis took time to work out the details and discuss the Coach’s working methods, so the announcement was delayed by a few days.”
Many have wondered how Sarri will translate his 4-3-1-2 system to the Partenopei, but Pellegrini is not concerned.
“Sarri doesn’t just have one system in mind. He will adapt to the players at his disposal. We are talking about a flexible Coach who tries to get the best out of every player.
“Napoli signed a stellar chef who served excellent food at Empoli with good ingredients. Now that the ingredients he has to work with are excellent, I am certain the delicacies will be even better.”