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Napoli to consider Julen Lopetegui appointment?

Napoli to consider Julen Lopetegui appointment?
© Reuters
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is allegedly contemplating an approach for former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Julen Lopetegui.

Julen Lopetegui has reportedly emerged as a potential managerial target for Napoli.

When Luciano Spalletti made the decision to depart the club after winning the Serie A title, president Aurelio De Laurentiis opted to appoint Rudi Garcia as his replacement.

With Garcia having not managed in Italy since 2016 and most recently being in the dugout of Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, the decision to appoint the 59-year-old represented a surprise choice.

Just 10 matches into his reign, it appears that De Laurentiis has already grown frustrated with Napoli's inconsistent start to the campaign.

Garcia has won just five of his fixtures, with two of his three defeats occurring in Serie A and Napoli already seven points adrift of leaders AC Milan.

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis attends the press conference on March 22, 2023© Reuters

De Laurentiis has publicly acknowledged that he may have made the wrong choice in handing Garcia a return to the elite of European football, subsequently leading to an approach for Antonio Conte.

However, reports have suggested that the former Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur boss has opted against jumping at the opportunity to manage the Naples-based outfit.

According to Relevo, another name on De Laurentiis's shortlist is that of former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Lopetegui.

After successfully guiding Wolves away from the Premier League relegation zone in 2022-23, the plan had been for Lopetegui to implement further changes to challenge for a return to Europe.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui reacts on July 29, 2023© Reuters

Instead, the decision was taken for the two parties to go their separate ways, a consequence of Wolves' owners not being prepared to back Lopetegui in the transfer market due to their concerns over FFP.

The 57-year-old's stock remains high, though, on the back of his previous success with Sevilla, and the Spaniard is known to be ready to take on a new challenge.

Lopetegui is said to be monitoring the situation as he contemplate his next job, aware that more may become available between now and the January transfer window.

Napoli are not back in action until they meet Hellas Verona on October 21, and it is unclear whether Garcia will be provided with a stay of execution to take charge of that match.

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte pictured on March 11, 2023
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2AC Milan37228773462774
3Bologna371814554302468
4Juventus371814552312168
5Atalanta BCAtalanta362061067392866
6Roma371891064442063
7Lazio371861348381060
8Fiorentina361591255421354
9Torino371314103633353
10Napoli371313115548752
11Genoa371113134345-246
12Monza371112143949-1045
13Hellas VeronaHellas Verona37910183649-1337
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15CagliariCagliari37812174065-2536
16FrosinoneFrosinone37811184468-2435
17Udinese37519133653-1734
18Empoli3789202753-2633
RSassuoloSassuolo3778224274-3229
RSalernitana37210252978-4916


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