With Maurizio Sarri seemingly on his way out, Raffaele Palladino and Sergio Conceicao are now considered the main candidates for the Lazio hot seat.
Antonio Conte to Leave Napoli
Over the past few days, several sources in the Italian media have been expecting Antonio Conte to part ways with Napoli. The Lecce native’s exit will spark a domino effect, beginning with Sarri, who is the ultimate favorite to replace him at the Stadio Maradona.
Maurizio Sarri Expected to Replace Conte at Napoli
Il Messaggero confirms that the 67-year-old is destined to leave Lazio, especially following Claudio Lotito’s recent statements. The Biancocelesti president insisted that no one at the club is indispensable when answering a question regarding the manager’s future.
As the newspaper put it, Sarri has been given a choice: Either he sticks around and accepts Lotito’s transfer strategy, or he should find himself a new club. Needless to say, the Tuscan manager has made up his mind, but he won’t resign from his post before he secures himself an agreement in Napoli. Therefore, the next few days should bear major developments on this front.
Raffaele Palladino & Sergio Conceicao the Favorites for Lazio Job
In the meantime, Lazio have begun their search for a new head coach. Il Messaggero believes that Palladino and Conceicao are the current frontrunners, even though both men are tied to other clubs.
The 42-year-old Italian took over at Atalanta last November. However, the club is about to appoint Cristiano Giuntoli as the new sporting director, and the latter might decide to start with a clean slate, thus sending Palladino packing. The former Juventus player had impressive stints at Monza and Fiorentina in recent years, and is considered one of the best young managers in Serie A.
Could Conceicao Return to Lazio?
For his part, Conceicao is a familiar face at Lazio, having had two stints at the club during his playing days. The 51-year-old enjoyed a long and successful managerial tenure at Porto between 2017 and 2024, but endured a rough six months at Milan last season.
The Portuguese is currently tied to Al-Ittihad with a contract valid until 2028, but the Saudi giants might be willing to release him after a disappointing campaign.
The Other Lazio Candidates
The source also mentions three other profiles in Sassuolo’s Fabio Grosso, Cagliari’s Fabio Pisacane, and Gennaro Gattuso, who is currently unattached after leaving the Italian national team following another failed World Cup qualification campaign.
Lets get a coach who is tactically flexible and can play either 4-2-3-1 or 3-5-2 or anything than a 4-3-3 formation
4-3-3 is modern and effective formation but you need to know how to play it. Spalletti played beautiful 4-3-3 in Napoli with Kvara and Osimhen. PSG play the best football in the world with 4-3-3. Italy won EURO 2021 with 4-3-3 while playing the most entertaining football. 4-3-3 is not the problem. So called “Sarrismo” is.
I like the option of Palladino, he is italian, young, still has things to prove.
Even if Conceicao is an ancient player who was here during the famous golden era he is too controversial and is going to clash with Lotito, it will end badly.
Looks like Motta is the favourite at the moment.
Palladino ….
Wow, these two are actually quite superb options. Either one will do for me!
Palladio and Grosso are great options. I particularly like Grosso for the way he got Sassuolo play and the immense football knowledge.
Klose and Conceicao are both romantic choices and could work and not , it’s a bit of a coin toss but both have a good case: Klose improved on his last season with Nurnberg and has the youngest squad in the whole of German football with the avg age of 23 yrs and Nurnberg made huge profits on 2-3 players going to either EPL or Bundesliga(Klose was also a striker and has the most world cup goals if I’mnotmistaken so that would come handy for the future if he can pass half his knowledge). Conceicao was undermined by the Milan players and didn’t had a good enough squad and still won the supercup, his football is good on the eye and has a bit of Gattuso grit in him though he could clash with our clown called Lotito.
Conclusion: Grosso>Paladino>Klose/Sergio in that order because Grosso could do the best with the least.
Ps: I should add that my preference would be Sarri staying but he won’t be backed so it’s pointless:(
Conceição just came from Porto and AC Milan, yes he was an ex player that won the scudetto for Lazio. But with no fans returning to the stadium on the horizon, Lazio likely selling or letting go of much of the squad. And realistically not fighting for Europa League. Why on earth get a high profile trainer in that’s highly costly?
If Napoli is willing to pay some for Sarri that would be great. Lazio pays gross likely 5-5.5million for him. Getting a fee and paying 1.5 to like 2 million gross for a new trainer, that’s responsible.
Was your reply was to me, mind you I was talking mainly from sporting perspective. I am aware of the economic side though hence Grosso is at the top of the list and I wouldn’t mind Klose either
Laughed, when I read your response. No clue why it was under your comment amico. I agree that your main suggestion for Grosso and Palladino seem the most feasible.