Maurizio Sarri resigns as Lazio boss after Champions League exit and dramatic Serie A slump

The team finished second last season but are ninth in the table this year and exited to Bayern Munich in Europe last week

(Getty Images)

Maurizio Sarri has resigned from his role as Lazio coach and assistant coach Giovanni Martusciello has been nominated to lead the team, the Serie A club said on Wednesday, following their recent Champions League exit to Bayern Munich.

“S.S. Lazio announces that Maurizio Sarri has handed in his resignation as head coach of the first team,” the club said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The club would like to thank the coach for his achievements and for the work he has done, wishing him the best of luck in his professional and personal life.

“At the same time, the club communicates that it has decided to entrust Giovanni Martusciello with the technical leadership.”

The 65-year-old had handed his resignation to the club’s management on Tuesday, the Italian media reported.

Lazio, who on Monday suffered a 2-1 home defeat against Udinese, are ninth in the Serie A standings with 40 points from 28 games.

They lost five of their last six games across all competitions, a far cry from finishing in second place last term in the Italian top flight.

Former Chelsea and Napoli manager Sarri took over Lazio in June 2021 from Simone Inzaghi, who left to sign with Inter Milan.

The club last Thursday dismissed media reports saying Lazio considered sacking Sarri after their 3-0 defeat at Bayern in the Champions League, the result that saw them out of the competition, stressing that his contract was expiring in 2025.

Reuters