Luciano Spalletti guided Napoli to the first Serie A title in 33 years and says he will leave the club at the end of the season and take time out of the game.
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“I need to take some time to rest because I’m pretty tired,” he said. “I don’t know if you can call it a year’s sabbatical but I won’t be working. I won’t be coaching Napoli or any other team.”
Spalletti who is 64 years of age became Napoli Manager in July 2021 and remained with a year deal on his contract.
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The club won their first Italian top-flight title since 1990 on 4 May, with five games to spare, and reached the Champions League quarter-finals, recording victories over Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers during the group stage.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis said he would “respect” the decision made by the manager for he has made history with the club.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Rai, De Laurentiis said: “He’s a free man, he’s given us something and I thank him, it’s right that he does what he wants.”
Former Roma, Celta and Barcelona manager Luis Enrique, who left his position as Spain boss following the 2022 World Cup, is Napoli’s “ideal candidate” to succeed Spalletti, Corriere dello Sport has reported.
Napoli, who drew 2-2 at Bologna on Sunday, play their final match of the season at home to Sampdoria next Sunday.
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Napoli have secured their first Serie A title in over 30 years by drawing 1-1 at Udinese making it the first Scudetto the southern Italian side have managed since 1990 and the Diego Maradona days.
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“Seeing Neapolitans happy is enough to give you a sense of that joy they are feeling,” Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti told DAZN.
“These people will look to this moment when life gets hard, they have every right to celebrate like this.
“You feel a bit more relaxed knowing that you’ve given them this moment of happiness.
Napoli’s previous two titles came in the days of Argentina legend Maradona – who their stadium is now named after – in 1987 and 1990.
Following those glory days the club fell into financial decline, relegation and bankruptcy; playing in Serie C as recently as 2006.
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They have won the Coppa Italia three times in the past 11 seasons but it is the Scudetto the Napoli fans craved.
