Garcia's start with Napoli seemed promising with victories over Frosinone and Sassuolo in his first two games, but the team's Serie A dominance dwindled with inconsistent results. Out of their initial 12 games in the new domestic campaign, Napoli managed only six wins, three draws, and three defeats, culminating in a recent disappointing 1-0 home loss to Empoli.
This setback left Napoli in fourth place in the table with 21 points, trailing leaders Inter Milan by 10 points and Juventus by eight. Atalanta BC and Fiorentina are hot on their heels, just one point behind the defending champions.
Furthermore, Napoli faces the risk of missing out on a spot in the Champions League knockout stages, despite securing seven points from their first four group games, placing them second in Group C behind the already-qualified Real Madrid.
Amid weeks of speculation about his future, Garcia has now been dismissed. The 59-year-old leaves with a 50% win rate from his 16 matches in charge, securing eight wins, four draws, and four defeats during his tenure.
Despite rumored interest from Antonio Conte, Igor Tudor, and Fabio Cannavaro, Napoli has opted to bring back 62-year-old Mazzarri for a second stint as head coach. Mazzarri previously led Napoli for just under four years, achieving a notable last-16 appearance in the 2011-12 Champions League and winning the Coppa Italia that same year.
After leaving Napoli the first time, Mazzarri managed Inter Milan, Watford, Torino, and Cagliari, concluding his tenure with the latter at the end of the 2021-22 season. The 62-year-old, believed to have signed a seven-month contract, will commence his second term in charge of Napoli with a match against Atalanta BC on November 25 after the international break.
