A huge bounce. As few observers would have imagined. To everyone’s surprise, Rudi Garcia was appointed coach of Naples on Thursday. He succeeds Luciano Spalletti, who led Napoli to their third Italian league title. The former coach of Lille, Marseille and Lyon was preferred to Christophe Galtier, leaving from PSG. Garcia will coach for the second time in Italy after leading AS Roma between 2013 and 2016.
After seeing his experience cut short in Saudi Arabia at the head of Al-Nassr last April, Rudi Garcia once again demonstrates his ability to rebound. Excellent in the art of presenting projects, speaking Italian to perfection after his time at AS Roma and enjoying a good rating in Italy, Garcia was therefore preferred to Christophe Galtier or Paulo Sousa.
In an interview with Le Figaro, his last with a French media, in March 2022, he mentioned the difference in image between France and abroad. “I’m quite detached from all that, football is never a long calm river. The divisive choices I was able to make, such as coaching Marseille then Lyon, without really being aware of it at the start, meant that I was not well received in the Rhône. I’ve been criticized quite a bit by a minority on social networks, but it’s the current period that wants that too… I call it the screaming minority. Today you can criticize everyone while staying hidden behind your phone screen. Some people like to let off steam that way, there’s not much I can do about it. Your head can’t please everyone and you can’t go against that.” Next season, he will therefore be at the head of Naples, reigning Italian champions and recent quarter-finalists in the Champions League.