Napoli Fires Carlo Ancelotti Hours After Champions League Advancement

Napoli fired manager Carlo Ancelotti on Tuesday just hours after he led the club to a Champions League victory over Genk.

Napoli fired manager Carlo Ancelotti on Tuesday just hours after he led the club to a Champions League victory over Genk. 

Tuesday snapped a nine-match winless streak for Napoli, and the victory vaulted the club to the Round of 16 with a second-place finish in Group E.

“Napoli has decided to revoke the role of technical manager of the first team from Mr. Carlo Ancelotti,” Napoli said in a statement on Tuesday. “The relations of friendship, esteem and mutual respect between the company, its president Aurelio De Laurentiis and Carlo Ancelotti remain intact.”

Napoli has struggled in Serie A in 2019-20. Ancelotti's former squad has lost four of its 15 matches, entering Saturday's matchup with Parma tied for seventh place with 21 points.  

Ancelotti was in his second season with Napoli before Tuesday's decision. He began his managerial career with Serie B squad in Reggiana in 1995, and he previously managed Juventus, Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid before joining Napoli.

Despite the press announcement regarding his sacking, reports suggest this has been building up for weeks as Ancelotti's relationship with De Laurentiis deteriorated due to a poor performances, conflict of management and transfers disputes.

It's believed he could make a return to the Premier League as Sky Sports reports Everton has begun contract talks with the 60-year-old manager, who is one of three to win the Champions League three times. Arsenal is also in the running but nothing yet fully confirmed for either club.