Serie A champions Napoli have appointed former Roma manager Rudi Garcia as their new head coach.
The 59-year-old Frenchman replaces Luciano Spalletti, who left the club to take a sabbatical after guiding Napoli to a first Scudetto in 33 years in May.
Garcia, like Spalletti, previously managed Roma in Serie A while he won a French league and cup double with Lille in 2010/11.
After spells at Marseille and Lyon, Garcia left his most recent job at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia in April.
“I have the pleasure of announcing that, after having met and attended him during the last 10 days, Mr Rudi Garcia will be the new coach of Napoli,” said owner Aurelio De Laurentiis.
“A sincere welcome to him and a big good luck!”
Ex-PSG coach Christophe Galtier was believed to be the leading candidate for the Napoli job, with multiple reports claiming on Thursday morning that De Laurentiis was preparing an offer for the Frenchman.
Garcia was eventually hired, but Napoli have not revealed much more about his appointment, even failing to mention the length of the coach’s contract in their official statement.
ADL said in May that he was looking for a coach using a 4-3-3 formation. Luis Enrique was also linked with the Napoli job, but De Laurentiis soon scrapped the Spaniard from the list.
Oddly, Garcia was sacked by Roma in January 2016 and replaced by Luciano Spalletti. The Certaldo born-coach has led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years this season.