Lazio made an official announcement on Wednesday confirming the resignation of coach Maurizio Sarri and the appointment of his longtime assistant Giovanni Martusciello as his successor.
Sarri’s decision to step down came amid a series of disappointing results, with Lazio experiencing five losses in their last six matches, as reported by Italian media on Tuesday. The 65-year-old had been at the helm of Lazio for three seasons, with a contract extending until the end of the following season.
In their statement, Lazio expressed gratitude to Sarri for his contributions and wished him success in his future endeavors. Simultaneously, they introduced Giovanni Martusciello as the new head coach, highlighting his previous collaboration with Sarri at Empoli, Juventus, and Lazio. Martusciello had previously served as Empoli’s head coach during the 2016-17 season.
Martusciello’s first game in charge will be against Frosinone on Saturday, as Lazio seeks to reverse their recent fortunes under his leadership.
Despite finishing second in the Italian league last season, Lazio’s performance has been disappointing this year, currently sitting 11 points behind fourth-placed Bologna. While they experienced memorable victories in the Champions League, including a win against Bayern Munich, they ultimately fell short.
Sarri’s tenure saw mixed results, including a loss to Inter Milan in the Super Cup semifinals and an upcoming Italian Cup semifinal clash against his former club Juventus.
Sarri, who previously managed Juventus, Chelsea, and Napoli, was relieved of his duties by Juventus in 2020 despite securing a ninth consecutive league title for the club in his sole season in charge.
