Maurizio Sarri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Maurizio Sarri

Sarri as Juventus manager in 2019
Personal information
Date of birth	(1959-01-10) 10 January 1959 (age 66)
Place of birth	Naples, Italy
Height	1.90 m
Playing position	Centre-back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
	Figline
Teams managed
1990–1991	Stia
1991–1993	Faellese
1993–1996	Cavriglia
1996–1998	Antella
1998–1999	Valdema
1999–2000	Tegoleto
2000–2003	Sansovino
2003–2005	Sangiovannese
2005–2006	Pescara
2006–2007	Arezzo
2007	Avellino
2007–2008	Verona
2008–2009	Perugia
2010	Grosseto
2010–2011	Alessandria
2011–2012	Sorrento
2012–2015	Empoli
2015–2018	Napoli
2018–2019	Chelsea
2019–2020	Juventus
2021–2024	Lazio
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Maurizio Sarri (born 10 January 1959) is an Italian professional football manager. He is known for his unique coaching style and tactical approach.

Sarri did not play football professionally. He was an amateur player and coach while working as a banker. In 2005, he got his first job in Serie B, a major Italian football league, with Pescara. In 2014, Sarri helped Empoli get promoted to Serie A, Italy's top football league. After keeping them in Serie A, he became the manager of Napoli.

He won several awards while managing Napoli. After his team finished second in the league in 2018, Sarri moved to the English club Chelsea. There, he won the UEFA Europa League in his only season. He then returned to Italy to coach Juventus in 2019. He won the Serie A title in his first season with Juventus, becoming the oldest manager to do so.

Early Life and Career Start

Maurizio Sarri grew up in different parts of Italy, including Naples and Tuscany. His father was a former professional cyclist. Before becoming a full-time football coach, Sarri worked as a banker. His banking job took him to cities like London, Zürich, and Luxembourg.

Sarri played football as an amateur centre back for his local team, Figline. He tried out for bigger clubs like Torino and Fiorentina but didn't get signed. He stopped playing for Figline due to injuries.

For many years, Sarri balanced his banking job with playing and coaching football. In 1990, at 28, he started coaching more seriously. After working with a smaller team called Tegoleto, he decided to leave his banking job to focus entirely on his coaching career.

Managerial Journey

Starting Out as a Coach

Sarri's first coaching job was with Stia in 1990. He then moved to Faellese and helped them get promoted to a higher league. He also coached Cavriglia and Antella, guiding both teams to the Eccellenza league.

In 2000, Sarri joined Sansovino. In his first season, he led them to promotion to Serie D. He stayed there for two more seasons, even reaching the play-offs. His success caught the attention of Serie C2 team Sangiovannese, who hired him in 2003. He helped them reach Serie C1 in his first year.

On 9 July 2005, Sarri became the manager of Pescara in Serie B. After keeping them from relegation, he moved to Arezzo in November 2006. He also had short spells at Avellino and Hellas Verona.

He later coached Perugia, Grosseto, and Alessandria. With Alessandria, he reached the promotion play-offs. In 2011, he joined Sorrento. Even though the team was doing well, he was dismissed in December.

Empoli's Rise

On 25 June 2012, Sarri became the coach of Empoli, a team in Serie B. In his first season, he led them to fourth place and the playoff final, but they lost to their rivals Livorno.

The next season, Sarri guided Empoli to second place in the league. This meant they were directly promoted to Serie A after six years away. In the 2014–15 Serie A season, Empoli finished 15th, successfully avoiding relegation.

Napoli's Exciting Years

Sarri during his spell in charge of Napoli in 2016

On 11 June 2015, Sarri became the manager of Napoli, the club from his hometown. In his first season, he brought in players like Elseid Hysaj, Pepe Reina, and Allan. These players became key parts of the team. Napoli finished second to Juventus that season.

Sarri extended his contract with Napoli until 2020. Even after their top scorer, Gonzalo Higuaín, left for Juventus, Sarri found a way to make the team stronger. He changed Dries Mertens from a wide player to a central forward. This change worked very well, and Mertens scored 28 goals. Napoli finished third in 2017, and Sarri was named the league's coach of the year. He also received the Enzo Bearzot Award.

Napoli started the 2017–18 Serie A season incredibly well, winning eight league games in a row. They didn't lose a league game until December and then went on another long winning streak. Napoli finished second in the league, just four points behind Juventus. On 23 May 2018, Sarri left Napoli.

Chelsea Challenge

Sarri (left) managing Chelsea in 2018, alongside then Southampton boss Mark Hughes

On 14 July 2018, Sarri became the head coach of Chelsea in England. His first official game was the 2018 FA Community Shield, which Chelsea lost. However, he quickly got his first win in the league. Sarri became the first coach to go undefeated in his first 12 Premier League games.

During the 2019 EFL Cup Final, there was a misunderstanding with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Sarri wanted to substitute Kepa, but Kepa felt he could continue playing. Chelsea ended up losing the game in a penalty shootout. Both Sarri and Kepa later said it was a misunderstanding. On 29 May, Sarri won his first major trophy as a manager when Chelsea beat Arsenal 4–1 in the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final. Chelsea won the Europa League without losing a single game.

After the 2018–19 Premier League season, Sarri left Chelsea to be closer to his family in Italy.

Juventus Success

On 16 June 2019, Juventus signed Sarri for three years. He missed the first two matches of the 2019–20 season because he was recovering from pneumonia.

Juventus played in the 2019 Supercoppa Italiana but lost to Lazio. On 17 June 2020, Juventus lost the Coppa Italia Final to Sarri's former club Napoli in a penalty shootout. However, on 26 July, Juventus won their ninth straight Serie A title with a 2–0 win over Sampdoria. This was Sarri's first major trophy in Italian football. On 8 August 2020, Sarri was sacked by Juventus after they were knocked out of the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League.

Lazio Period

After a year away from coaching, Sarri was appointed manager of Lazio on 9 June 2021. He made his debut with a 3–1 league win over Empoli. In his first season, Lazio finished fifth in the league. His contract was extended until 2025.

In his second season, he led Lazio to second place in the Serie A table. This meant they qualified for the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League. On 12 March 2024, Sarri resigned as Lazio's head coach.

Manager Profile and Tactics

Sarri with Chelsea in 2019

Sarri is known for his smart and detailed approach to football. He spends a lot of time preparing for matches during training. His teams often practice many different plays, especially for set-pieces (like free kicks and corners).

A key part of his system is a four-player defense line. His teams usually play with a high defensive line, meaning defenders push further up the field. They use the offside trap and a zonal marking system, where players cover areas of the field rather than specific opponents. Sarri wants his defenders to move together and focus on the ball.

His teams often have a deep-lying playmaker, like Jorginho, who controls the game from deep in midfield. He also likes attacking full-backs who run wide to support attacks. Sarri's teams often attack from the sides, using quick passes and runs into the penalty box instead of just crossing the ball. He prefers fast wingers and defenders and goalkeepers who are good with the ball. This helps his team keep possession.

When they don't have the ball, Sarri's teams press high up the field to win it back quickly. He has used different formations, like the 4–3–1–2 or 4–2–3–1. However, he became famous for his "free-flowing, possession-based 4–3–3 system" at Napoli. When Napoli's main striker was injured, Sarri used Dries Mertens as a false nine. This meant Mertens played as a central forward even though he usually played on the wing. This tactical change helped Mertens score many goals.

Sarri got his coaching diploma in 2006. He is known for being direct and honest. Unlike many other managers who wear suits, Sarri usually wears a tracksuit during matches.

Personal Life

Sarri chewing on a cigarette butt while on the touch-line with Chelsea in 2018

Maurizio Sarri is known for being a heavy smoker. In 2018, when Napoli played against RB Leipzig, the German club even built a special smoking area in their stadium's locker room just for him. He is often seen chewing on cigarette butts during games.

Sarri speaks Italian, his native language. He also speaks English, sometimes using an interpreter for interviews.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Manager

Sansovino

• Coppa Italia Serie D: 2002–03

Chelsea

• UEFA Europa League: 2018–19

Juventus

• Serie A: 2019–20

Individual

• Panchina d'Argento: 2013–14
• Panchina d'Oro: 2015–16
• Enzo Bearzot Award: 2017
• Serie A Coach of the Year: 2016–17
• Serie A Coach of the Month: March 2023

See also

In Spanish: Maurizio Sarri para niños

• List of UEFA Cup and Europa League winning managers